Jack Sytsma, Ph.D. From Birding to Bird Research

From Birding to Bird Research: Building Avian Research at K-State

Program description:
Birding can lead us in all sorts of directions, from memorable encounters in the field to new questions about how birds behave, adapt, and interact with changing environments. In this talk, Dr. Jack Sytsma will share some of his experiences with birds and introduce the growing avian research program he is developing at Kansas State University. He will highlight new projects involving bird behavior and cognition, including collaborative work with Sunset Zoo, as well as opportunities for K-State students to participate directly in avian research. The talk will also explore ways K-State students, researchers, and local birders can connect around our shared interest in birds.

About the speaker:
Jack Sytsma, Ph.D., is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Division of Biology at Kansas State University, where he teaches courses including Ornithology and Ecology. His background includes avian genomics, ecology, and field-based observations of birds, with a broader interest in how organisms respond and adapt to environmental variation. He recently established an avian research group at K-State that brings undergraduate students into hands-on research and is developing new collaborations with Sunset Zoo and other community partners.

PROGRAM:  7 pm at the Manhattan Public Library, Groesbeck Room

DINNER:  5:45 pm at Baan Thai