DearASMmembers,
Itrustthatsincethelastnewsletter,everyonehasbeenbusilyengagedinenjoyingmammalsin allof
theiramazingdiversity.
It’shardtobelievethatthiswillbemylastletterasPresident
of ASM. I haven’t accomplished everything that I intended
when I assumed this role but, when I look back at the past
nearly2years,thingshavebeenbusy.Wehavegonethrough
a lot of operational changes, many of which are not
immediately apparent, but I’m pleased to report that the
societyisingoodshape–bothfinanciallyandadministratively
–asaresultofthesechanges.
Photo: Eliurusminor,
MammalImagesLibrary#3416,
anewcontributionbyJimRyan.
MeetusinMinneapolis!
Our96thannualmeetingwilltakeplace24-28JuneattheUniversityofMinnesotainMinneapolis.Based
onregistrationstodate,thiswillbeoneofourlargestmeetingsinthepast25years,withover300talks
andpostersscheduled.Thefullprogramforthemeetingisnowavailableonlineat:
https://conferences.k-state.edu/mammalogists/files/2014/12/2016-ASM-Program-2016.05.10t6iz90.pdf
Pleasecheckitoutandstartplanningyourschedule…itshouldbeagreatweek
fullofscience,friends,andfun!
Lookingforward…
AsASMapproachesitscentennial,Ithinkthatitisimportantforallofustoreflectonwhatwewantour
scienceandoursocietytobeinitssecondcentury.DuringmytimeasPresident,Ihaveseenmultiple
examplesthatillustratethatwearetheexpertsinmammalianbiology.Iurgeustoexplorenewwaysin
whichtopushthisexpertisetotheforefrontofpublicandprofessionalinterestinmammals.
As an example, ASM has been very proactive in educating researchers, regulators, and the public
regardingtheuniqueanimalcareconsiderationsthatcomeintoplaywhenworkingwithwildmammals.
As a result, we are now viewed as a critical resource in this arena and our guidelines are widely
recognizedasappropriatestandardsforstudiesofwildmammals.
I believe that we have the potential to position ourselves similarly in other critical arenas, including
biodiversity,conservation,andresponsetoclimatechange.Wearealreadyengagedinimportantefforts
relatedtoeachofthesechallenges.Withsomerepurposingofourcollectiveeffortsandsomemodest
investmentofresources,Ithinkthatwecantakeourprominencetoanewlevel,onethatwouldparallel
ourcontributionstoregulatoryoversightofresearchonmammals.Doingsowouldservenotonlyour
science, but also the public and the animals about which we care so deeply. I encourage us to work
together to make ASM the recognized authority for information regarding all aspects of mammalian
biology.
Someadditionalselectionsfromthewealthofphotosavailablethroughthe
MammalImagesLibrary
Pantherapardus
Delphinapterusleucas
Saigatatarica
(#1602)
(#1388)
(#989)
IthasbeenmygreatpleasuretoserveasyourPresidentforthepasttwoyears.Ilookforwardtoseeing
manyofyouinMinneapolisinJune.
Best,
President,AmericanSocietyofMammalogists