In this video, you will meet Smithsonian scientists studying the health of coral reefs below the surface, ancient human bones, and how indigenous communities are transforming Smithsonian collections. The short talks are:

"What We Can, Or Shouldn’t, Extract from Human Bones," by Chris Stantis:
Chris Stantis is a bioarchaeologist who combines advanced chemistry techniques with analyses of small pieces of bone and teeth to answer questions about ancient  humans. When she set out to analyze a collection of Peruvian mummies acquired in the 19th and 20th centuries, a surprising history shifted her focus to the ethics, culture, and legacy of collecting human remains. In this talk, she’ll flesh in the story of these mummies, how they were brought to the museum and what their story tells us about the history of colonization and racism.

"How Indigenous Knowledge Transforms Collections," by Laura Sharp:
Museum collections are transformed when they are informed by the communities from which they originate. Hear from Laura Sharp, manager of the Smithsonian’s Recovering Voices Program, about how indigenous communities are conducting collections-based research to revitalize language, knowledge, and traditions and advance and challenge our understanding of ecology, history, and culture.   

"Coral Microbiomes and the Key to Resilience," by Michael Connelly.
Just as the human microbiome in our gut and on our skin keeps us healthy, there’s a community of microbes living within the cells of corals which affect coral health, ecology, and evolution. Marine biologist and ecologist Mike Connelly shares what scientists know about these symbiotic relationships and their importance to coral reef ecosystems that support our food, economy, and culture.

This Zoom webinar aired May 17, 2022.

See the museum's schedule of After Hours programs here: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/educati...

Smithsonian's Recovering Voices Program: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/researc...