Join us in kicking off October as we welcome three Smithsonian-affiliated scientists to teach us about the remarkable world of tropical bats!

For decades, scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have studied the remarkable biodiversity of bats on Barro Colorado Island in Panama, where an astonishing seventy-six species coexist. Now, for the first time, Smithsonian scientists’ expertise pairs with the stunning photography of National Geographic contributor Christian Ziegler for a captivating visual journey into the fascinating world of these elusive night creatures, to bring you the book Bat Island: A Rare Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats.

Bats are unique among mammals: they have acquired true flight, they provide essential ecosystem services, and represent the ecologically most diverse group of mammals worldwide. Synthesizing decades-worth of intensive study, Drs. Rachel Page, Dina Dechmann, Teague O’Mara, and Marco Tschapka provide authoritative insight alongside 150 photographs that showcase bats’ extraordinary environmental adaptations and rich natural history.

This presentation will cover topics from the book, such as the diverse sensory abilities of bats, their foraging strategies, roosting ecologies, and social systems. Bat Island presents decades of study of the hyper diverse bat population on Barro Colorado Island in addition to the most comprehensive and long-term datasets on tropical bats. The book and this presentation highlights how bats are threatened by habitat fragmentation and land degradation, and communicate the initiatives needed to ensure the survival of these animals, which are critical to maintaining healthy, balanced ecosystems.

And let’s not forget, the award-winning photojournalist Christian Ziegler’s photography as the images within the book illuminate the unique beauty and allure of bats and the tropical rainforest in Panama. Register now for this rare look into Bat Island!

About the Presenters

 Dr. Rachel A. Page is a staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, where she leads the Smithsonian Bat Lab (www.noseleaf.org). She is broadly interested in animal behavior, but her focus is understanding the sensory and cognitive tools bats use to navigate their worlds and interact with each other. After completing a BA at Columbia University and a PhD at the University of Texas at Austin, Page conducted postdoctoral research as an Alexander von Humboldt fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen, Germany. Page has studied bats on Barro Colorado Island and the surrounding areas for over two decades. She has a passion for understanding rich, tropical ecosystems and the myriad species interactions they encompass. In addition to conducting her own research, Page mentors a large group of students. Page lives at the edge of the rainforest in Gamboa, Panama. 

Dr. Dina K. N. Dechmann is a group leader at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (www.ab.mpg.de/dechmann) and a research associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. An evolutionary ecologist by training, her main research interest is how animals adapt to fluctuations in the resources upon which they depend. She is fascinated by how tiny mammals with fast metabolisms, such as bats and shrews, adapt their morphology, physiology, and behavior to deal with the bottlenecks created by changes in the food landscape. She works in ecosystems across the world, but since her first visit to BCI in 2000, she has been struck by the diversity of the tropical bat community, which remains a cornerstone of her research. She received her master’s degree at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich followed by a PhD at the University of Zurich and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin. Since she was hired by Max Planck in 2009, she has had the good fortune to supervise a group of brilliant young minds, several of whom now run their own projects in Panama. Dechmann lives in the medieval town of Stein am Rhein in Switzerland. 

Dr. M. Teague O’Mara is the Director of Conservation Evidence at Bat Conservation International, where he works on data-driven strategies for the conservation of global bat populations. O’Mara has studied animal behavior, movement, and physiology across the globe, with an emphasis on bats in Panama. He is a research associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, and an adjunct professor at Southeastern Louisiana University. He received his PhD from Arizona State University studying lemur development and social behavior, and then switched to research with bats during postdoctoral work at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the University of Konstanz, and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany. He lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

SCLD Online Authors Series

Registration required to view live. Register using the Event URL below.

You’re invited to free your mind with the highly acclaimed Silvia Moreno-Garcia, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of several novels including Mexican Gothic, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, Gods of Jade and Shadow, and many more!

Moreno-Garcia’s most recent novel, The Seventh Veil of Salome, is set in 1950s Hollywood. Vera Larios, an unknown Mexican ingénue, has just won a star-making role in a big budget movie about the legendary woman whose story has inspired artists since ancient times–Salome. Vera quickly becomes the talk of the town and an object of envy for Nancy Hartley, an actress whose career has stalled and who will do anything to win the fame she believes she richly deserves.

The Seventh Veil of Salome follows two actresses, both determined to make it to the top in Golden Age Hollywood—a city overflowing with gossip, scandal, and intrigue—makes for a sizzling combination. But this is the tale of three women, for it is also the story of the princess Salome herself, consumed with desire for the fiery prophet who foretells the doom of her stepfather, Herod. Salome is a woman torn between the decree of duty and the yearning of her heart. Before the curtain comes down, there will be tears and tragedy aplenty in this sexy Technicolor saga. 

Join us as Moreno-Garcia chats with us about Latin American Genre fiction, her writing process and journey, as well as her newest book The Seventh Veil of Salome. Register now! 

About the Author:  Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of a number of critically acclaimed novels, including Gods of Jade and Shadow (Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic, Ignyte Award), Mexican Gothic (Locus Award, British Fantasy Award, Pacific Northwest Book Award, Aurora Award, Goodreads Award), Velvet Was the Night (finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Macavity Award), The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, and The Seventh Veil of Salome. She writes in a variety of genres including fantasy, horror, noir and historical.

Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination. Cachanilla and Canuck, originally from Baja California, she now resides in Vancouver. She has an MA in Science and Technology Studies from the University of British Columbia.

SCLD Online Authors Series

Registration required to view live. Register using the Event URL below.

Join us at this professional event as we explore the topic of technology and transportation. As technology advances, transportation professionals continue to look at investments that can help improve the safety and efficiency of our regional transportation system.

At the 2nd annual Transportation Summit, attendees will hear about trends in smart mobility and enjoy breakfast, networking, and learning from subject-matter experts. These speakers will provide context on existing and emerging technologies, their benefits and limitations, and what steps the Spokane region needs to take to implement these possible strategies. Experts will also be available to answer questions and further the conversation. 
See sponsorship opportunities HERE.

We hope to see you there!

Questions or want to sponsor: Ask Savannah Hayward
shayward@srtc.org
509-343-6370

Registration is required. To schedule your one-on-one counseling appointment with a SHIBA volunteer, call 509.777.1592. Please bring your Medicare card and a list of your current prescriptions to your appointment.

Costs and coverage for Part D plans and the Medicare Advantage plan can change every year, so it is important to review your plans for 2025. Any changes you want to make need to be submitted during the open enrollment period: October 15–December 7, 2024. Trained SHIBA volunteers can help you research, assess, and evaluate which options work best for you and your needs so you can make an informed decision. 

Presented by ALTCEW and SHIBA
Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) provide free, unbiased, and confidential counseling service and are part of the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. SHIBA is a statewide network of trained volunteers who advocate for and assist consumers with Medicare and is sponsored locally by Aging & Long Term Care of Eastern Washington (ALTCEW).