Press Releases
Posted on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - Arts & Events
Biology Professor Explores Myths, Realities of Bats
CONTACT:
- Sheri Byrd, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360/546-9602, byrds@vancouver.wsu.edu
- Christine Portfors, School of Biological Sciences, 360/546-9434, portfors@vancouver.wsu.edu
Vancouver, Wash. - At a time of year when bats are often portrayed as blood-sucking, vicious animals, local families will have a chance to see live bats up close, and learn why bats are largely misunderstood.
Dr. Christine Portfors, assistant professor of biology at Washington State University Vancouver, will give her popular annual talk, "Exploring Myths and Realities of Bats," 3 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 29, in the Student Services building, Room 110. The event is free, open to the public, and family-friendly.
In the presentation, Portfors will dispel popular folklore while showing the beneficial role bats play in nature managing insect pests, pollinating plants and dispersing seeds. She will show pictures of different bats, have an interactive discussion with the audience, and show her captive mustached bats.
"Many people want to get rid of bats and consequently, certain species are becoming endangered," she said. "These misunderstood animals need to be understood in order to protect them. My role as a scientist is to help educate the public about their importance, and kids especially have a lot of fun coming to see the live bats."
Portfors is a biologist and neurobiologist who has studied bats in the wild and in the lab for more than 10 years. For more information on her research, visit her Web site, "The Bat Lab," at http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/portfors/portfors_home.html .
WSU Vancouver offers 14 Bachelor's degrees, 9 Master's degrees and 1 Doctorate degree and more than 35 fields of study. The campus is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205. Visit us on the Web at http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu.
Bats from the Washington State University Vancouver lab of Dr. Christine Portfors smile for the camera. Portfors will present her bats and talk about their myths and realities 3 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 29 in the Student Services building, Room 110. The talk is free and family-friendly.
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