What factors have led to the recovery of one of North America’s most iconic wildlife populations, and what is needed to ensure their survival in the future? Dr. Frank van Manen, leader of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team at the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, will share his unique insights on these questions in the third and final presentation in the fall Science Inquiry Series.
The talk will be presented at the Museum of the Rockies at 600 W Kagy Blvd in Bozeman, Montana on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 7 p.m. in the Hager Auditorium.
The series, sponsored by the Gallatin Valley Friends of the Sciences, explores cutting edge science topics, their latest developments, and their relevance to society through speaker presentations followed by conversations between speaker and audience. The talks are free to the public.
In his presentation, entitled “Yellowstone Grizzly Bears: 45 Years of Scientific Discovery,” van Manen will explain how nearly five decades of continuous scientific study informed the recovery of grizzlies, the unique ecological insights his team gained, and the important role of technological advances in monitoring the grizzly bear population.
Dr. van Manen holds a PhD. in Ecology from the University of Tennessee. He joined the U.S. Geological Survey in 2000, researching several predator species in the southeastern U.S. before joining the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team in 2012. He has collaborated on bear research projects in a variety of countries, and served two terms as president of the International Association for Bear Research and Management.
The presentation will be followed by an opportunity for audience members to engage in conversation with van Manen in the museum lobby with light refreshments served.
The speaker presentation and audience participation segments together will last approximately an hour.