Humboldt ERFSA Spring Luncheon Lectures Begin Thursday

This is a press release from Humboldt ERFSA:

Humboldt ERFSA, the Emeritus and Retired Faculty and Staff Association is pleased to announce the start of their Spring luncheon lecture series this week at the Plaza View Room, 780 7th St, in Arcata.

The first in the series begins on Thursday, February 9, with a presentation and discussion with Allison Bronson, entitled The Evolutionary Anatomy of Shark Ears. Allison is a Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences, at Cal Poly Humboldt and a recipient of an ERFSA small grant for her research. Though sharks are over 400 million years old, they are also hyper-specialized to fill a variety of ecological roles, from top pelagic predators to gentle planktivorous giants. Some of these adaptations are obvious, such as variation in their cartilaginous skeletons, formidable rows of teeth, and highly-movable jaws. Others are harder to detect but no less important. With the help of high-resolution CT scanning, Allison has been investigating the anatomy of their highly-adapted inner ear, unique among fishes for its ability to detect very low-frequency sound. Researchers found that the inner ears of sharks vary dramatically in their morphology. These findings lead to further questions: Why are these ears so diverse? Does this relate only to these fishes’ evolutionary history, or does this diversity reflect ecological differences? Come and find out!

All guests should be fully COVID-19 vaccinated and may wear masks while attending. Meet and greets begin at 11:30 a.m. Food and beverages will be served at 11:45 a.m. and the presentation begins at 12:10 p.m. Hot lunch, prepared by Uniquely Yours Catering, includes an assorted bread selection, salad, a vegetarian side dish, and an entrée. The price for lunch is $17.50, payable by cash or check. Guests can have a “take away” meal by either bringing their own container or paying $1 for a provided container. Wine is available for purchase; Humboldt ERFSA will cover the cost of the first glass of wine for those who purchase lunch.

The lecture series continues with a presentation by Lori Dengler, Emeritus Professor of Geology, and co-director of the Humboldt Earthquake Education Center on March 9; Matthew Marshall, Executive Director of the Redwood Coast Energy Authority will present on April 13; and Jeffrey Crane, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences talks on May 11. Humboldt ERFSA hopes to see you at one or all of these special presentations.