UM’s Rosenstiel School & The Explorers Club Present:  Naturalist Bruce Purser Discussing B

Photo Credit: Bruce Purser

VIRGINIA KEY, Fla. – The University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and The Explorers Club, South Florida have joined to present a lecture by Bruce Purser, author, researcher and emeritus professor of the University of Paris. A self-described ‘geologist by profession, and entomologist by passion,’ his lecture, entitled “The Remarkable Diversity of Andean Butterflies” will take place Monday, September 28, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the Rosenstiel School Auditorium located at 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key, Fla. (next to the Miami Seaquarium.)

Purser, will discuss his journeys in search of exotic butterflies throughout the northern Andean countries of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela.  From the peaks to the low-lying rainforests, Purser travels by canoe and jeep through the lush flora recording images of these insects in their natural habitat. His goal is to gain an understanding of why the foothills of the Andes have the highest biodiversity in the world – aside from coral reefs — and whether that diversity might somehow relate to the geomorphology of the region. 

Born on an isolated island off the coast of New Zealand, Purser began his elementary schooling by correspondence.  He later moved to Auckland, New Zealand where he received his Master’s degree in Geology.  After graduation he joined Shell International Oil Company and had a twenty-year career living in places as far-flung as Turkey, the Netherlands, Indonesia, West Africa and France.  In France, he earned his doctorate in geology and served as professor at the University of Paris until his retirement as emeritus professor in 1993.  Since then he has been travelling the world, observing and photographing insect behaviour, and writing books on the topic.

The lecture is open to the public, at no charge.  A reception with light refreshments will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m.

About the Explorers Club The Explorers Club is an international multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research and the ideal that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore. Since its inception in 1904, the Club has served as a meeting point and unifying force for explorers and scientists worldwide.

About the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School
The University of Miami is the largest private research institution in the southeastern United States. The University’s mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940’s, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world’s premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, please visit www.rsmas.miami.edu

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