65th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

In two weeks I'll be presenting my research at the annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology meetings, hosted by the Mesa Southwest Museum
http://www.mesasouthwestmuseum.com. Since 1997, I've been attending these meetings, and each one is unique. It is a wonderful way for scientists to get together and exchange ideas. This years meeting offers symposiums on fossil fish, early sauropod dinosaurs, mammalian response to climate. One surprise is a unique symposium on evolution and society. Less than half of the U.S. population understands the concept of evolution, which is continually contested by superstition and religious dogma. The focus of the symposium is on education, and will highlight new programs to teach and convey basic scientific information to the public. I will try to update information on specific talks and posters that see when I travel to Mesa, Arizona in two weeks.