Make your MPIG travel plans!

The 8th annual Midwest Primate Interest Group meeting is around the corner and it's time to make your travel arrangements. Here's a message from MPIG president Dr. Katie MacKinnon:

We have received an impressive group of abstracts for this year's MPIG meeting! The finalized schedule will be up soon--stay tuned.

In the meantime, this is just a gentle reminder to make your hotel reservations and book your flights if you haven't yet done so. We encourage those of you traveling from the same university/geographical areas to coordinate on flights and carpools if possible. While we are finalizing the scientific schedule for poster and papers, I refer you to this general timeline when making your travel arrangements.

Marilyn Norconk has posted a very helpful list of information on the MPIG website, so I direct you there again for hotel/travel info (note airport suggestions and driving directions, etc.). Please note that the hotel reservation deadlines for the special group rates are fast approaching!

Also: if you wish to be picked up at the airport, please email her at mnorconk@kent.edu...she will arrange for meeting volunteers to help pick up groups of people at certain times, based on arrivals.

Many thanks again for your interest and participation -- we are looking forward to another great MPIG meeting!

Cheers,
Katie

MPIG 2011 abstract deadline August 15

Remember how geeked out I was about MPIG 2010 in Chicago? Well, we're gearing up for a wonderful MPIG 2011 hosted by Kent State University. Abstract deadline is August 15. Can't wait for MPIG, Buckeye Style!

In the meantime, relive the magic of MPIG 2010!

Photos from MPIG 2010!!

I am thrilled to announce that photos of the awesomeness that was MPIG 2010 have been posted at www.mpig.org (look to the left and click on MPIG Photos). Huge thanks to Katie MacKinnon of Saint Louis University and Matthew Wyczalkowski of Washington University for documenting the meeting in such style.

While at the MPIG website, search around to learn more about the organization - its officers, history, and the upcoming meeting at Kent State University, October 14-15, 2011!

MPIG 2011

A quick announcement to the BANDITs to let you know that MPIG 2011 is scheduled for October 14-15 at Kent State University. Details are forthcoming, but keep checking here, www.mpig.org, and #MPIG2011 on Twitter for updates...

MPIG 2010 has gone, but it won't be forgotten...

Wow, what a fantastic weekend! The Distinguished Primatologist award to Russ Tuttle and the reception that followed at the the Field Museum was a wonderful way to start. Many thanks to Robert Martin for a truly elegant evening. On Saturday at UIC, we started with coffee and bagels (REAL bagels from New York Bagel and Bialy up in Skokie - to die for), then launched into one of MPIG's finest scientific programs yet: a full slate of 16 podium presentations, followed by an afternoon poster session - 34 posters in all. During the poster session the E. Lloyd DuBrul Comparative Skeletal Archives was open to attendees - an amazing collection of mostly craniofacial and dental specimens, prepared by one of the bioanthropological forefathers of comparative dentition, Dr. E. Lloyd DuBrul, who was on faculty in the UIC College of Dentistry for several decades. We wrapped up all the hard work with a great party at my place on Saturday night - thanks to all who came to celebrate the close of another successful MPIG. Can't wait 'til next year!

Photos of the event will be posted soon at www.mpig.org so stay tuned...

MPIG is here!!!

I am so excited - MPIG comes to Chicago this weekend! We kick it off at the Field Museum tomorrow night to honor Russell Tuttle, MPIG's Distinguished Primatologist for 2010, then take it to UIC on Saturday for a full day of some fantastic science. Lots of students, both undergrad and grad, will be there presenting their work - very excited for them. Will post a recap after the weekend.

Check out www.mpig.org for details and to download a copy of the program.

MPIG program is available!

Sweet biscuits, the MPIG 2010 program is now online at www.mpig.org! Lots of BANDITs will be presenting and hobnobbing. It will be epic.

MPIG 2010 is nearly upon us...

The Midwest Primate Interest Group 7th annual meeting takes place in Chicago, September 24-25, at the Field Museum and the University of Illinois at Chicago. We have 49 (!!!) presentations scheduled, including 16 podium talks, a symposium of 10 posters on Great Ape Research at the Lincoln Park Zoo, and 23 additional posters! It's an amazing lineup of research, not to mention the opening night events at the Field Museum: private guided tours of Evolving Planet and Ancient Americas, and the presentation of the 2010 Distinguished Primatologist award to Russell Tuttle.

Registration is accepted at the door, so it's not too late to make plans to attend! Keep an eye on www.mpig.org for the detailed program which is going to be posted in the next couple of days.

You are coming to MPIG. End of discussion.

Don't worry! You still have two weeks to send in your abstracts and registration for the upcoming Midwest Primate Interest Group meeting (September 24-25) in Chicago. Deadline is August 15 - see www.mpig.org for information. We especially encourage undergraduate and graduate students to present their work at MPIG. All primatological topics/foci are welcome: behavioral, morphological (soft tissue/skeletal/fossil), evolutionary, comparative, biomedical, psychobiological, ecological, ethical, educational, wild/lab/zoo...get the picture? Remember, you do not have to be in the Midwest to join us at MPIG. All are welcome!

Here's a brief rundown of events:
Friday, September 24: Opening night of MPIG 2010 is at the Field Museum, with many thanks to Dr. Robert Martin! This includes guided tours of two major exhibits*, the presentation of the 2010 Distinguished Primatologist Award to Dr. Russell Tuttle of the University of Chicago, and a reception.
*YOU MUST SIGN UP IN ADVANCE for a guided tour of EITHER "Ancient Americas" OR "Evolving Planet." The tours will be held from 3:45-4:45. This is the only available time slot for seeing the exhibits as part of MPIG. PLEASE CONTACT ME BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 TO SIGN UP FOR A TOUR, INDICATING WHICH EXHIBIT YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEE. If there is an overwhelming imbalance, we may schedule a tour of only one exhibit.

Saturday, September 25: A full scientific program at the UIC College of Dentistry. Tours will be available of the duBrul archives, a permanent exhibit on the history of dentistry at UIC, and the Comparative Primate Biology Laboratory. A huge variety of restaurants is readily accessible within easy walking distance of the campus. There will be a party Saturday night.

Remember these three dates:
1. August 15, abstract due
2. September 2, hotel room block expires
3. September 10, deadline to sign up for guided tour at the Field Museum
(Note that the abstract deadline, and details about the Friday night schedule as described in this email are correct. Changes will be made to the website information as we make the final arrangements.)

Please check out this snazzy guide to help you make arrangements for your trip to Chicago. This map might give some ideas to maximize the awesomeness of your Chicago experience.

Make your MPIG lodging arrangements SOON!

If you are planning to come to MPIG 2010, please book your hotel room at the UIC Medical District Marriott now! The hotel is an easy walk to the meeting site, and near lots of public transportation. We have reserved a block of rooms at a very good discounted rate. THIS RATE WILL EXPIRE ON SEPTEMBER 2!

You may want to consider reserving a room at the Hosteling International Chicago, a very nice hostel in the heart of downtown. Space in a dorm room costs $29-35/night, and larger groups can get even better deals: . The hostel is near the Pink Line "L" train, which will take you directly to UIC.

You can explore your options through these Priceline searches--->
Downtown, up to $200/night
Loop/Grant Park, up to $200/night


Wherever you decide to stay, keep in mind your public transportation options. Google Maps allows you to get directions using public transit. You can also go to the CTA site to plan your routes around the city.

You have affordably priced options for traveling to Chicago from many locations in the Midwest on Amtrak and MegaBus (I highly recommend this). Please don't hesitate to email me with questions regarding your trip - I am happy to help!

We look forward to seeing you in Chicago,
Julienne

MPIG 2010 CALL FOR PAPERS!

Hey folks, the abstract deadline for MPIG 2010 Chicago is fast approaching. Please submit abstracts and your registration by August 15 so you don't miss all the crazy fun we're going to have in the Windy City. Also bear in mind that the deadline for taking advantage of our amazing group rate at the lovely UIC Medical District Marriott.

Please join us!

2010 Midwest Primate Interest Group meeting in Chicago!

Just wrapped up ASP in Louisville, and it's time to talk about MPIG in Chicago. MPIG is the brainchild of Agustin Fuentes, Bob Sussman, Katie MacKinnon, and Paul Garber who realized that the Midwest is home to an astonishing concentration of primatologists. A regional powerhouse was thus born, and we are now gearing up for our 7th annual meeting on September 24-25. This year it will be held in Chicago, co-sponsored by the Field Museum and my school, the University of Illinois at Chicago. Bob Martin will generously host the opening night reception at the Field Museum, which will include after-hours access to some of the exhibits. Fancy! The next day, UIC will host a full scientific program of both podium and poster presentations. This is a very student-friendly venue. For more info, check out www.mpig.org

You don't have to be a Midwesterner to come to MPIG; you just need to be a PIG! (Thanks to Steve Schapiro for that bit of cleverness.)

Hope to see you in fabulous Chicago this fall!

Midwest Primate Interest Group (MPIG) 2010 meeting - First Call for Papers

MPIG has quickly become one of my favorite meetings: it's relatively small, it's extremely student-friendly (undergrads are frequent presenters), it's only a couple of days so doesn't kill you with tedium, and it highlights the amazing concentration of biological anthropologists in the Midwest. You DO NOT have to be from the Midwest to participate or attend. Put it on your calendar!

Dear All,
I wanted to take this opportunity to announce the first call for podium and poster presentations for our 6th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Primate Interest Group, September 24th and 25th in Chicago. Our 2010 meeting will be co-sponsored by Dr. Julienne Rutherford of University of Illinois at Chicago and Dr. Robert Martin of the Field Museum.

Attendees will have after-hours access to the Ancient Americas and Evolving Planet exhibits! The Saturday paper and poster session will be held at the UIC College of Dentistry, which houses the DuBrul Comparative Skeletal Archives, a wonderful resource for biological anthropologists and anatomists.

Visit the MPIG website at www.mpig.org/ for additional information.


Agustín Fuentes