In recent years I have occasionally fielded heart-felt requests to organize some sort of workshop on the biology of freshwater gastropods, especially focusing on identification skills. I was part of an FMCS committee to conduct one such effort in Tuscaloosa in 2004 (to mixed reviews), and I myself led a workshop more narrowly focused on the Pacific Northwest gastropod fauna in Missoula in 2006 [1]. But we've had nothing in recent years. At least, not around here.
So in the last couple days I've been swapping emails with a
small delegation from Clemson University about hosting a freshwater gastropod
workshop here in Charleston. My schedule
is flexible between now and Christmas, and so is theirs, and it just seems to
have sort-of come together.
So everybody is invited to a spur-of-the-moment workshop at
The College of Charleston next Monday morning, December 15, 9-12:00 noonish. No paperwork, no registration fees. Just zap me an email if you’d like to
participate.
I’ll bring out my personal reference collection, which is
really rather complete for The East.
I’ll also go out and fetch us some living critters. We’ll do a couple dissections. It’s not rocket science but there are a
couple tricks I’ll be happy to show you.
Looking forward to it!
Notes
[1] Previous workshops:
- FMCS Gastropod Workshop [19Dec03]
- Report from Tuscaloosa [23Mar04]
- Pacific Northwest Gastropod Workshop [23Mar06]