The fifth annual meeting of Florida United Malacologists (FUM) will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2014, at The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum (BMSM) on Sanibel Island, Florida. The one-day gathering is designed to enhance communication among professional, amateur, and student malacologists, with topics including, but not limited to biology, ecology, paleontology, archaeology, and conservation.

FUM follows the pattern established by similar informal gatherings such as BAM (Bay Area Malacologists), SCUM (Southern California United Malacologists), MAM (Mid-Atlantic Malacologists), and OVUM (Ohio (River) Valley United Malacologists). There is no formal membership and there are no dues, officers, nor publications.  However, presenters are required to submit a brief abstract limited to 150 words or less.  Abstracts will be posted on the Museum web site. The gathering will be free to presenters and Museum members. Non-members will be asked to donate the Museum admission fee of $9. 

Participants are strongly encouraged to ask questions and discuss data, compare notes on methods and problems, and get acquainted with presenters and members of the audience. Presentations, limited to 15 minutes plus 5 minutes for questions, will be informal and will cover current research and collection efforts and issues. The Museum will provide projection equipment for PowerPoint programs, brief videos, and slides.

Museum parking is free. Box lunches and dinner at a local restaurant (to be arranged) will be available at cost to participants and presenters.  An event reservation form for presenters and participants is provided below and is also posted on the Museum web site (www.shellmuseum.org). Seating is limited, so please return the reservation form as soon as possible.

Please send inquiries and abstracts to José H. Leal, Museum Director/Curator at jleal@shellmuseum.org. The deadline for submission of abstracts is March 15, 2014. The FUM program including abstracts, times, and sequence of presentations will be posted on the Museum web site, www.shellmuseum.org, shortly after the topic submission deadline.

 Kind regards to all,

José H. Leal, Ph.D.

Curator & Director of Education

The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum

 

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