Molly Martell has been working on developing and implementing the Human Evolutionary Teaching Materials Project (HETMP). This project aims to provide resources for middle and high school educators to better implement the teaching of human evolution in science curricula. HETMP offers a comprehensive range of teaching modules along with 3d pdfs and 3d models for students to better visualize human ancestors in the fossil record. Preliminary trials of the HETMP will begin in October of this year. For her hard work, Molly has been the recipient of a grant from the Society for the Study of Evolution Small Grants Program for Local and Regional Outreach Promoting the Understanding of Evolutionary Biology to further the project.

 

 

 

 

 

More information about H.E.T.M.P. can be found at https://www.hetmp.com/

 

The DeLeon Lab is once again AAPA bound! As a lab, we had 6 abstracts accepted as posters for the 2017 American Association of Physical Anthropology Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. We are very excited to be returning to the meeting this year (above is a lab picture from the 2016 AAPA meeting) and will be presenting on a variety of topics including nasal turbinals, tarsal development in primates, and pelvis morphology.

Here are some highlights from the 2016 AAPA meeting:

Cat presented on tarsal ossification patterns in Primates and how they reflect locomotion behavior.

 

Sarah’s research focused on cross-sectional properties of bones found at Morton Shell Mound (16IB3).

Lexi presented on the growth of the temporal bone using mouse models for human development.

Molly presented on the differences of turbinal growth and development in Primates.

Andree’s research focused on taphonomic observations in the Karluk Salmon Cannery Chinese of Kodiak Island, Alaska.

Our newest graduate student addition to the lab is Andreana (Andree) Cunningham. She was born and raised in South Florida. She completed her B.A. degree at University of Miami in May of 2016, with majors in Anthropology and Criminology. Some of her past research experiences have included the analysis of skeletal remains of 19th century salmon cannery workers excavated in Kodiak Island, AK, the reconstruction of mobility patterns of ancient peoples through heavy isotope testing, and the study of skeletal thoracic trauma in forensic contexts. For fun, she loves to read books and comics, practice her artwork, and eat waffles. While at UF, she hopes to study genetic diversity manifested on the skeleton in relation to participants in and descendants of the African diaspora.

Congratulations Molly! Molly was named second author on a paper published in the Anatomical Record about lemur nasal anatomy. Along with Drs. Tim Smith, James Rossie, Christopher Bonar, and Valerie DeLeon, Molly analyzed nasal mucosa distribution and studied turbinal development in Eulemur spp., Hapalemur griseus, Lemur catta, Propithecus coquereli.