Volume 21, issue 2 Summer 2014 Priscum NEWSLETTER OF THE PALEONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY S P E C I A L th P O I N T S O F The 10 North American Paleontological INTEREST: Convention Post-Conference Report NAPC Post- Convention Report By Michał Kowalewski and Troy Dexter In the end, only 6.5% of registered partici- NAPC Sponsors (Florida Museum of Natural History) pants were unable to attend the conference. Book Reviews Your widespread support and your dedication Call for PS nomina- Despite an unwelcome spell of bad weather bode well for the future of our profession. tions that paralyzed many airports, close to 500 Cambridge Universi- paleontologists from 28 countries assembled The 2014 NAPC demonstrates that paleontol- ty Press Partnership in February on the University of Florida cam- ogy remains a worldwide discipline with a pus for the 10th North American Paleontologi- vibrant research agenda, lofty educational PS Student Grant cal Convention. NAPC 2014 was hosted by the Awardees goals, and well-articulated outreach. A total of Florida Museum of Natural History 471 participants attended this year’s NAPC, Future of Paleontol- (University of Florida) and organized under including ~15% of international guests. NAPC ogy Opinion the auspices of the Association of North presentations (305 talks and 75 posters) cov- GSA Paleontology American Paleontological Societies. A consid- ered all fields of paleontology, from cyanobac- Sessions erable sup- teria to Thanks to those who port was pro- whales and have served the vided by di- from Archean Society verse spon- to Anthropo- sors and ex- cene. The hibitors en- strong pres- INSIDE THIS suring the ence of stu- ISSUE: financial via- dents (126) bility of this was particu- NAPC Sponsors 3 event. larly uplift- ing, as was As the organ- Cambridge U. Press the increas- 4 Partnership izing hosts, we have been both thrilled and ing participation of avocational paleontolo- gratified by the widespread voluntary support gists and K-12 educators. To learn more about of many paleontologists who contributed to the content of the meeting, you can download Student Grant Awardees 5 the success of this meeting. Many of you vol- the abstract volume free of charge at http:// unteered to organize and convene topically www.flmnh.ufl.edu/index.php/ Student Grants diverse symposia and worked with us in a download_file/view/1679/. 8 awardees forgiving and accommodating manner. Many of you volunteered as judges of student As hosts, we have also been very fortunate to presentations. And many of you persevered attract outstanding keynote speakers who Paleo Sessions at GSA 11 against the winter storm: unfazed by last- delivered thought-provoking and insightful moment flight cancellations, you had braved presentations. During the opening ceremony, icy and congested roads, often driving 15 Book reviews 16 Sandra J. Carlson, the outgoing President of hours or more just to attend the conference. the Paleontological Society, delivered an in- P a g e 2 P r i s c u m 10 th N A P C P o s t - Conference Report spiring talk on the future of our discipline (“Where do we go attended found the meeting rewarding and returned back from here?”). She was followed by Shanan E. Peters, the home inspired and energized. current coordinator of the Paleobiology Database, who talked about the thrilling future of paleontological databases We are looking forward to future NAPC meetings! (“Bringing paleontology’s ‘dark data’ to light”). During the closing ceremony, Kirk Johnson, the Director of the Smith- sonian Institution, energized and challenged the audience with his talk on “The million kid march and other aspira- tions for paleontology”. We are also thrilled to report the launching of the new stu- dent award program. The 2014 NAPC student competition, included both oral and poster award categories. A total of 123 students signed up for the competition and their posters and talks were evaluated by numerous judges. The Best Graduate Talk Award went to Emma Locatelli (Yale) for her presentation on the “Experimental taphonomy of foraminif- era”. Honorable mentions went to Nicole Cannarozzi and Fabiany Herrera (both from University of Florida). The Best Graduate Poster Award was awarded to Victoria E. McCoy (Yale University) for her presentation on “Distribution of fossiliferous concretions at the Mazon Creek fossil site”. Honorable mentions went to Chelsea Jenkins (University of Georgia) and Sharon McMullen (University of Wisconsin- Madison). The best Undergraduate Presentation Award went to Aaron M. Martinez (College of William & Mary) for his presentation on “Time-averaging in Chesapeake Bay mollusks: estimates based on amino acid racemization of Holocene mulinia”. The honorable mentions went to Nicole Little (University of Cincinnati) and Elysia Howe (College of William & Mary). It was a great privilege to host the 10th North American Pale- ontological and it is our sincere hope that those of you who Photos courtesy of the Florida Museum of Natural History P r i s c u m P a g e 3 Sponsors of the 10 th NAPC Geological Assoc. of Canada Paleontology Division Society for the Preserva- tion of Natural History Collections P r i s c u m P a g e 4 Paleontological Society enters partnership with Cambridge University Press The Paleontological Society is pleased to announce the be- contract be signed with Cambridge University Press ginning of a five-year partnership with Cambridge Universi- (http://www.cambridge.org/; a not-for-profit organization ty Press for the publication of our journals, beginning Janu- – the world’s oldest publishing house, founded in 1584). ary 1, 2015. This decision was the result of a detailed and Following a formal discussion by the full PS Council, this careful review of the current status of the Society and its recommendation was adopted by unanimous vote on journals prompted by recognition of the rapidly changing March 31, 2014. landscape of 21st-century scientific publishing. This partner- ship will be of immediate and long-term value to the Society The advantages to our members and authors of this con- and its members, with great potential for growth and devel- tract include: highly competitive Open Access pricing; the opment, while allowing us to remain firmly committed to end of page charges; a much more user-friendly online our mission of advancing the science of paleontology. manuscript submission process; vastly increased reach of papers, nearly doubling the number of libraries worldwide An ad hoc PS Publications Committee (names below) was where our journals will be accessible, as well as improved appointed early in 2013 to evaluate a variety of existing pub- media coverage; and discounts on Cambridge University lication models, to recommend a best model for the Society’s Press publications. The contract has substantial financial future publishing needs, and to make recom- benefits to the society, with strong income guar- mendations to Council of possible actions. Town antees, especially as a global marketing plan will hall meetings were held at the 2013 GSA in Den- increase our visibility and membership. Paleon- ver and at the 2014 NAPC in Gainesville to keep tological Society journals, including Special Pub- the membership informed of the process and to lications, and their editors will benefit from state obtain their input. All members were invited by -of-the-art technology and support for journal e-mail and by announcement on the PS webpage development, including stipends. Under the new to submit comments and opinions about their publishing arrangement, the Paleontological priorities for the journals. Society will continue its relationships with BioOne, Geoscience World, and JSTOR. The Committee recommended in October 2013 that the current “self publication” model be re- Further details about our publishing partnership placed by a partnership with an experienced and with Cambridge University Press will be an- successful commercial or academic publisher. nounced soon through the Paleontological Socie- Such a partnership would allow the PS to take ty website (http://www.paleosoc.org/) and jour- advantage of recent advances in the publishing nal websites (http:// industry, including existing and emerging publishing tech- www.journalofpaleontology.org/) and (http:// nologies as well as global marketing and distribution. www.paleosoc.org/paleobio.htm) Interest from the scientific publishing industry for the op- The Paleontological Society Council is eager to begin this portunity to publish the Society’s journals was strong. We exciting new phase of our publishing activities! received eight detailed proposals, which provided the Socie- ty with multiple, viable options (any member wishing to Sandra J. Carlson, President; Steven M. Holland, President-Elect; learn details about the proposals or the process itself is wel- Philip D. Gingerich, Past-President; Mark A. Wilson, Secretary; Peter Harries, Treasurer; Peter Wilf, Councilor at Large come to contact President Carlson). In all publishing models (unrestricted) ; Margaret Fraiser at Large (under 40); Tom Ol- considered by the committee, from continuing self- szewski, Program Coordinator; publishing to various degrees of corporate partnership, the Margaret (Peg) Yacobucci, Education/Outreach Coordinator; Max issues most important to the committee included retention Christie, Student Representative; Emma Locatelli, Student Repre- of full ownership of the journals by the Society, continued sentative; Steve J. Hageman, Co-editor, Journal of Paleontology*;