Although we have thousands of extant (currently living) reptiles around the globe, there are many interesting extinct ones as well! Here are just a sampling of some of the amazing fossils that have been found of extinct reptiles! Titanoboa model on display. See the humans in the background for a comparison in size. Photo from Ryan Sommma/flickr. Titanoboa The 50-Foot … [Read more...]
Sportsmanship…Always a Priority!
Sportsmanship is defined as “conduct becoming to an individual involving fair and honest competition, courteous relations, and graceful acceptance of results.” Focusing on what you can learn makes you a better competitor and helps you improve your animal projects. Your behavior in the show ring reflects your behavior in life. Sportsmanship is a reflection of your character and … [Read more...]
Webinars as Tools for Animal Science Education
In recent months, the University of Kentucky Department of Animal and Food Sciences has been offering biweekly, 20-minute webinars on very specific topics in animal care and animal science. These livecasts are an effective educational tool because they are interactive. The hosts issue a call for questions at the end of each session and give answers in real time and incorporate … [Read more...]
How Cool Are These? Extinct Amphibians!
Although we have thousands of extant (currently living) amphibians around the globe, there are many interesting extinct ones as well! Here are just a sampling of some of the amazing fossils that have been found of extinct amphibians! Beelzebufo ampinga - The devil frog! Article from https://www.popsci.com/beelzebufo-devil-frog-bite-force-dinosaur/ Beelzebufo … [Read more...]
Evolutionary Biology through Herpetology! Part 2
We decided to ask Dr. Paul Hime who was interviewed in a previous post about hellbenders, how he became a Genomics Specialist. Dr. Hime, what is your official title? I'm a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum. My official title is "Genomics Specialist." What is it you do? I'm an evolutionary biologist … [Read more...]
With an Animal Science Degree, You Don’t HAVE to be a Vet
If you know you want to spend your life working with animals and are focused on studying Animal Science after high school, it is also important to know that veterinary school is only one of several career options after college. When applying to schools, be sure that the Animal Science program you attend will see you graduate with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. This is … [Read more...]
We are Bent on Learning about Hellbenders
For this blog we talked with Dr. Paul Hime, Genomics Specialist. Dr. Hime is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum. He is an evolutionary biologist who uses information from genomes to understand how different organisms are related and how and why species form. Dr. Hime helps us understand a misunderstood … [Read more...]
Your 4-H Involvement is Already Helping You Prepare for an Animal Science Degree
One of the many goals of your time as a 4-Her is learning life-skills to help you in college, the workforce, and beyond. Did you know that your involvement with Animal Science through 4-H is giving you a head start on a degree in Animal Science? Here's how: "Contact Hours": Many Animal Science degrees require students to document a set amount of hours volunteering with … [Read more...]
Evolutionary Biology through Herpetology! Part 1
Ever wonder how adults end up in their profession? Ever asked them to see if what they are doing now is what they thought they would be doing back in high school or even college? For some people, they are doing exactly what they thought they would do, for others they have found a new or different area of interest during their studies and experience. We decided to ask Dr. … [Read more...]
Run an Animal Science Trivia Bowl
Ocean County 4-H runs a Jeopardy-style trivia competition, Animalology, once a year. There are several goals guiding this event: to challenge 4-Hers in reading comprehension, to make learning fun, and to build teamwork skills. We hope this event makes learning about animal science—and other areas of STEM—interactive and enjoyable. Interested in running (or collaborating on) … [Read more...]