Biology Professors will be featured on Discovery Channel
This episode of “Mega Predators” will feature the Terror Bird, of which Chandler is an expert.
“I am most interested in the Terror Bird because there are so few specimens of them that have been found,” said Chandler. “My research has taken me to many places around the world in order to learn more about this creature.”
The Terror Bird was the largest bird that ever lived and weighed anywhere from 200-300 pounds and stood at an astounding 6.5 feet tall. Chandler’s particular area of study on the Terror Bird its wing morphology.
Chandler has traveled to many places to find specimens of the Terror Bird, including South America, Argentina, Ecuador, and the Santa Fe River in Northern Florida. His most recent research was in Trinidad with two other colleagues from GCSU.
Chandler is also no stranger to the media spotlight. He did a television show for The Learning Channel in 1996 when he was in Argentina and will be featured on a National Geographic special to air between January and March. Chandler also was featured on the cover of Discover Magazine in June 1997. The Discover Channel heard about Chandler through his appearance on the National Geographic special.
“Anytime you get some recognition for your research it is gratifying and important,” said Chandler. “But I think it is even better for the Natural History Museum we have here and my colleagues that work with fossils and other specimens.”
One of those colleagues, Dr. Bill Wall, will also be featured on “Mega Predators” with Chandler. Chandler brought in Wall, the Chair of the Biological and Environmental Sciences Department, because of his interest and expertise in biomechanics.
“It is pretty exciting to have something this big come to our school,” said Wall. “This time it is really exciting because they came here to our school, instead of sending Dr. Chandler somewhere. This gets our Natural History Museum exposure and Dr, Chandler’s research exposure as well.”
Dr. Chandler and Dr. Wall both see this exposure as something that will benefit both GCSU and the community.
“We are not publicized as well as we should be,” said Chandler. “Our Natural History Museum is a hidden treasure in the basement of Herty Hall. Getting national attention will make more people in the community and students at Georgia College more aware of what we have to offer.”
Dr. Wall also sees GCSU being featured on Discovery Channel as a way to attract new students.
“Many high school aged students who are interested in science watch the Discovery Channel and other science networks,” said Wall. “Being featured like this could make students more aware of Georgia College as a possibility for college and their interest in science.”
This episode of “Mega Predators” will feature Terror Birds and how they survived. It will mainly focus on how it made a living, whom it ate for a living, and whom it competed with. Dr. Chandler and Dr. Wall were both interviewed and will be featured on the episode. It is set to air in Fall 2009.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Dec 5 2008. Filed under News.
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