A presentation to Phi Beta Delta at the University of Kansas, 22 March 2016

1. Being an Academic in a Global Context
A. Townsend Peterson
Biodiversity Institute
University of Kansas

5. If the real world is small
and flat, academia is even
smaller and even flatter

7. students collaborations courses field expeditions

18. WHAT IS FASCINATING …

19. Otus bakkamoena, southern China 2004

20. Uragus sibiricus, northern China 2001

21. Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris, central Peru 2008

23. MEXICAN BIODIVERSITY…

24. Mexican Bird Specimens

25. ATP Activities 1988-present

29. Well-sampled Recent Grid Squares

30. Species Gains

31. Species Losses

32. Overall Species Turnover

33. Significant Drivers of Turnover
• Observed precipitation change – NO
significant effect
• Observed temperature change – YES – strong
significant effects
• Human impact on landscapes – NO significant
effect
• BUT – results are coarse in nature …

35. Misantla, Veracruz
Valley of Mexico

38. Sandhill Crane
Grus canadensis
Present-day distribution

39. "Oldmexicocity" by Juan Gómez de Trasmonte, 1628 (d. 17th century) - Mexico Maxico. Licensed under Public Domain via
Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oldmexicocity.jpg#/media/File:Oldmexicocity.jpg

47. Misantla, Veracruz
• 2012 thesis in the
Facultad de Ciencias,
UNAM
• Site well known and
well characterized
from early
ornithological
collections…

49. Misantla 2001-2012

50. Misantla 1850-present
"Battle of Veracruz" by Adolphe Jean-Baptiste Bayot - Originally published in The War Between the United States and
Mexico, Illustrated, 1851. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons -
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_Veracruz.jpg#/media/File:Battle_of_Veracruz.jpg

51. Observed Change … Summary

53. Publications per year on Mexican birds

54. Mexican Participation in Publications

55. The Real Secrets …
• Learn the language
• Understand and respect the culture and norms
• Learn at least a bit of the history and background
• Make genuine friendships
• Collaborate just as you would with any ‘normal’
person …
– Openly
– Honestly
• Perceive the differences and respond
appropriately (e.g., access)