School of Natural Resources Seminar Series Begins Sept. 9 (0809031)

September 03, 2008

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Missouri River and native peoples as seen by the Maximilian-Bodmer scientific expedition in the 1830s will be the topic of a free talk at 7 p.m. on Sept. 9 in the first-floor auditorium of Hardin Hall, 33rd and Holdrege.

Prince Maximilian of Wied, a German Naturalist, led an expedition from 1832 to 1834 that included Karl Bodmer, a Swiss illustrator. Although they were preceded by Lewis and Clark and other European explorers, the quality and detail of their observations of the Missouri from Nebraska to Montana are remarkable.

Presenting "Prince Maximilian, Karl Bodmer, and the Geology of the Great Plains, 1833-1834," will be Stephen S. Witte, of the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, where Bodmer's paintings are exhibited, and Robert F. Diffendal, geologist and professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

"Prince Maximilian was one of the most important scientific observers of the Great Plains in the early 1800s," said Witte and Diffendal. "Maximilian's main purpose was to observe the Native Americans. This was coupled with observations on natural resources including the plants, animals, and geology along the Missouri River." Much of what Maximilian described and Bodmer illustrated is still visible today.

Witte is editor of the newly released book, "The North American Journals of Prince Maximilian of Wied, Volume 1: May 1832-April 1833," which will be available Sept. 9 at special event prices from the Nebraska Maps & More Store, on the first floor of Hardin Hall.

This is the first of five talks in the School of Natural Resources Outreach Seminar Series. Others will be:

– Oct. 14, "Snakes on the Plains of Nebraska," by SNR herpetologist Dennis Ferraro.

– Nov. 6, Time reporter Michael Grunwald will speak on his new book, "The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise." His appearance is cosponsored by the Water Center, the Lower Platte River Corridor Alliance, and the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. Before his presentation, Grunwald will autograph copies of his book, which will be available at the Nebraska Maps & More Store.

– Nov. 11, "Protecting Nebraska's Native Plants and Animals from Invasive Non-Native Species," by SNR wildlife ecologist Craig Allen.

– Dec. 9, "The Drought of the 1890s on the Western High Plains," by SNR geographer David Wishart, with comments on present drought risks by Mike Hayes, climatologist and director of the National Drought Mitigation Center.

All of the presentations begin at 7 p.m. and refreshments will be served. Parking next to Hardin Hall will be free during the events.

9/3/08-KS