Ohio Wesleyan Professor to Discuss Book, Symposium During March 24 Interview
Edward H. Burtt, Jr.
DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University zoology professor Edward H. “Jed” Burtt, Ph.D., will discuss birds, books, and an upcoming ornithology symposium during an interview March 24 on WOSU radio’s “All Sides with Ann Fisher.”
The NPR-affiliated talk show is broadcast from 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday on 89.7 FM and is archived online afterward for on-demand listening. Burtt is scheduled to discuss the “Founding of American Ornithology” at 11 a.m.
Burtt is the co-author of “Alexander Wilson: The Scot Who Founded American Ornithology,” which tells the story of Wilson’s publishing a set of books rich with descriptions and hand-colored illustrations of the birds of the United States. Wilson’s works, published between 1808 and 1814, comprised the first major scientific publication of the United States and the founding document of American ornithology.
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the publication of the final book, Burtt and Ohio Wesleyan are hosting a one-day symposium, “Alexander Wilson and the Making of American Ornithology.” The symposium will be held April 23, at the university, beginning at 8 a.m. and continuing through dinner. Online registration is available now.
The symposium will include an exhibit of Wilson’s art and books and the presentation of an honorary degree to Frank B. Gill, Ph.D., author of the textbook “Ornithology” (3rd edition, 2006), considered the leading textbook in the field.
During his career, Gill has served as interim president of the National Audubon Society and as its chief scientist, spearheading the Important Bird Areas (IBA) program and pioneering citizen science initiatives including the Great Backyard Bird Count. He is a former vice president of the Academy of Natural Sciences and a past president of the American Ornithologists’ Union.
In addition to sharing news with WOSU’s Ann Fisher, Burtt also was interviewed recently by Mark Lynch of the NPR-affiliated WICN-FM in Worcester, Mass. Hear the March 13 WICN interview online.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private, coed university offers more than 90 undergraduate majors, minors, and concentrations, and competes in 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Ohio Wesleyan combines a challenging, internationally focused curriculum with off-campus learning and leadership opportunities to connect classroom theory with real-world practice. OWU’s 1,850 students represent 42 states and 37 countries. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives,” listed on the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at www.owu.edu.