Join The New York State Museum all August long for the “Women of Science” program series on Facebook Live and YouTube! Viewers can virtually meet Museum scientists, learn about their research through filmed presentations, and post questions which will be answered by the scientists themselves. More than a dozen scientists will treat viewers to hands-on educational activities and deliver short talks.
Each “Women in Science” program will be available at 1pm on the NYSM Facebook page, and later on NYSM’s YouTube Channel. As you watch the videos, if you have a question you would like to ask one of the expert women scientists, you can post it directly on the Facebook video, or email it to NYSMPP@nysed.gov.
Check out the full schedule of events below!
Wednesday, August 12 – Cultural Resource Survey Program (CRSP) with Dr. Christina Reith
CRSP provides research and assessment of archaeological and architectural resources for other state agencies. Join Dr. Christina Reith, Co-Director, CRSP in this look at the Smith-Holloway site located in the Schoharie Valley of New York. The site contains several different occupations with the most prevalent being the Transitional and Early Woodland occupations. Dr. Reith will share the artifacts that came from the site and discuss how these artifacts will be used in the future for research and public outreach.
Wednesday, August 19 – Preserving Geologic History and Records with Kathleen Bonk
A geology technician at the New York State Museum, Kathleen Bonk is responsible for the Open File Collection, a unique collection of geology-related archival records. Hear how Kathleen cares for this small-but-significant archive through processing and preservation. Explore the importance of these materials and how she makes the materials in her care available to researchers onsite and remotely.
Thursday, August 20 – Underwater Archaeology with Dr. Daria Merwin
Join Dr. Daria Merwin, Co-Director, CRSP, as she explores shipwrecks. Did you know that New York has hundreds of shipwrecks that can be found in rivers, lakes, the ocean, and even on land? Dr. Merwin will address underwater and maritime archaeology and explore what these amazing sites can tell us about the past.
Tuesday, August 25 – Geo-Physical Testing with Susan Winchell-Sweeney & Kristin O’Connell
Archaeology is an important tool when investigating the lives of enslaved people living in the Hudson Valley. Discover how the archaeological remains of a house constructed by Volkert P. Douw, a prominent politician during the mid-to-late 1700s, provide insight into the individuals that may have occupied the site including people enslaved by Douw in the 18th century.
As part of a larger project to study the impact of slavery in the Hudson Valley, the New York State Museum, in collaboration with the Open Space Institute and Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Tribal Preservation Office, undertook both a controlled surface artifact collection and a magnetic susceptibility (MS) survey at the Douw Site. MS is a non-invasive geophysical technique that is becoming increasing more popular for archaeological investigations in the United States.
Wednesday, August 26 – Fossils in the Field with Dr. Lisa Amati, Sarita Morse, and Kathleen Bonk
What do scientists do when they are “out in the field”? Enjoy this video from the field with State Paleontogist Dr. Lisa Amati and collections technicians Sarita Morse and Kathleen Bonk as they show how they collect fossils, research the area they are studying, and conduct work outside. Learn about the process of collection and hands-on research that helps the New York State Museum increase collections, make discoveries, and share the rich and exciting paleontological history of New York State with you!
For more from The New York State Museum, including virtual summer programming, information on exhibitions, or to learn about their collections, visit their website.