TTU Center at Junction and the History of the Texas Society of Mammalogists

By Timothy Howard, Media Relations Coordinator

The Texas Tech University Center at Junction has captivated generations of researchers, students and visitors with its scenic beauty, wildlife and academic opportunities. While many groups visit the TTU Center at Junction each year, one organization has called it home for more than three decades.

The Texas Society of Mammalogists (TSM) recently held its 36th annual meeting at the TTU Center at Junction, Feb. 16 – 18. TSM is a non-profit organization of scientists, students and policymakers devoted to the study of mammals. The groups' primary objectives are to grow and spread knowledge about mammalian ecology, conservation and evolution, with a primary focus on Texas and surrounding states.

Even though TSM and the TTU Center at Junction have held a tight partnership over the years, their relationship is based on more than just annual meetings. TTU Center at Junction is perhaps as important to the origin of TSM as the founders themselves.

TSM was originally the vision of Dr. Robert Packard, the first mammalogist to be hired by TTU in 1962. Dr. Robert J. Baker joined the TTU faculty in 1967 and shared Packard's passion for mammalogy. Over the next few years Packard and Baker would begin to share the dream of founding a society dedicated to the study of mammals. More than ten years later, in February of 1979, Dr. Packard organized a "Texas State Mammal" meeting of around 30 faculty members and graduate students from at least eight universities. The meeting took place at the TTU Center at Junction, and no efforts were made to officially establish the organization. Sadly, Dr. Packard passed away only two months later.

Many of the mammalogists at the original 1979 meeting, including Dr. Baker, shared
Dr. Packard's vision and preserved his early efforts by holding another organizational meeting in 1981. At that meeting, the group was officially named the Texas Society of Mammalogists, and a committee was elected to draft a constitution. The first annual meeting took place at the TTU Center a Junction in February 1983, and it soon became a tradition that it would be the annual venue for years to come.

TSM notes in Texas Tech University Museum's publication, "History of the Texas Society of Mammalogists," that the TTU Center at Junction was chosen as the annual venue for several reasons. It is a central location in the state, has comfortable housing, great food, facilities for meetings, and has a beautiful campus with many activities available. Also, TSM continues to remember and honor the TTU Center at Junction's ties to the origins of the society and to Dr. Packard.

This year's annual meeting was attended by 115 faculty members, students and mammalogy professionals from more than 30 institutions and several states. There were oral and poster presentations given by a total of 40 students. A total of nine awards were given out for various presentation categories as well. Dr. Elinor Karisson was also a guest speaker at the event, presenting her research in a talk titled "Pets, Dogs, Citizen Science and the Genomics of Behavior."

Texas Tech University eLearning & Academic Partnerships hopes that the TTU Center at Junction and TSM share even more history together for many years to come.

Information courtesy of Lisa Bradley, TSM Permanent Secretary and Research Associate at the Museum of Texas Tech University.

 

 

Dr. Robert Packard

Dr. Elinor Karlson presenting to the mammalogists

 

TSM Members at TTU Center at Junction in 2018