Tag Archives: sabbatical

Matthew Douglas uncovers insect fossil

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This past summer, while continuing his sabbatical research on North American and South American Monarch butterflies, Dr. Matthew Douglas of GRCC’s Biology Department had the good fortune of uncovering a nearly perfect insect from the Florissant deposits of Colorado (dated at 36 million years in age).  The insect, a fly in the family Tipulidae (cranefly), was a female entombed by a volcanic explosion that caused a great deal of silt to cover an ancient freshwater lake, entrapping this specimen.

All insect fossils are very rare because insects are so delicate, and this one is particularly rare and amazingly well preserved.

A fossilized fly.

Keith St. Clair to examine contrasts between China, Taiwan on Feb. 22

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Keith St. Clair will explore the historical, political, and cultural contrasts between China and Taiwan based on his recent IIPD trip to both locations.

Despite the One China Policy of the United States, there are two Chinese governments that claim to be the one government of China. The People’s Republic of China controls the mainland and has its capital in Beijing. The Republic of China controls Taiwan and has its capital in Taipei.  Both claim the other’s territory, yet have developed separately since the Communist takeover of the mainland.

Keith will examine the relations between these two countries and discuss the possibility for their reconciliation. His presentation will be on Wednesday, February 22, 2017, from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. in Room 168 ATC (auditorium). Stop by and bring your class for an informative session.