This alumnus is lioolced on fisli
He hurries in out of the morning rain, hangs up his raincoat and walks down the empty
hallway. His footsteps echo in the tiled stillness as he heads toward the laboratory.
Another day at the museum.
Walking through the collection room, he stops and looks around at the shelves of
preserved specimens that line the walls. Eyes stare out of the neatly arranged jars. It’s
time to begin work.
Vertebrate zoology is his speciality. Identifying fish is his job.
Jeff Howe, ’85, works as a museum technician in the Smithsonian Institute’s Division
of Fishes, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. He earned his master’s
degree in marine biology at UNCW.
"1 work with one of the largest preserved collections of fishes in the world," Howe said.
"As a museum technician, my duties are varied, but my primary duty is cataloging."
Cataloging is the numbering of each specimen and entering the information onto the
Smithsonian data base. Information about who collected each fish, when and where it was
collected, and the water depth at which it was found is part of the data base. "Some of the
specimens are 150 years old," Howe revealed. "If they’re maintained well, they’ll be
around for a long time."
Howe and nine other technicians work with the specimens that need to be cataloged.
Their training includes systematics, comparing one fish to another, and taxonomy,
classification of a particular specimen. "Working here is a great opportunity, said Howe.
"The number of groups and families of fishes is astronomical. This collection contains
literally everything you’d want to study about fishes."
The most challenging aspect of Howe’s work, in terms of identifying fishes, is keying
out", that is, going through a series of steps to precisely identify a fish. You re basically
starting with an unknown and ultimately working down to a genus and species, he said.
Howe advised anyone interested in becoming a museum technician to have a strong
background in systematics. "This is essential in working with collections," he said.
Course work in classification and evolution should also be completed. Experience in
working with computers is helpful too.
As the day draws to an end, Howe logs off of the computer - the image on the monitor
begins to fade. He smiles at the thought of returning tomorrow to continue his work with
one of the largest collections of fishes in the world.
Allison Relos
a
Frankly
Speaking
Congratulations graduates and wel
come to the Alumni Association of The
University of North Carolina at Wil
mington! As members of the largest
commencement class to date, you are
a part of the flourishing UNCW alumni
body.
For most of you, your experiences at
UNCW will become some of the high
lights of your life. You will, no doubt,
often reflect on the memories of hard
work, good times, and special friend
ships you shared while going to school
here.
You may stay in touch with many of
your UNCW friends; others you’ll lose
track of. And with time, distance, and
career development your college day
memories and friendships may begin
to fade. The UNCW Alumni Associ
ation and its chapters can be a vital
link between you and your classmates,
your fellow alumni, and the university.
' To keep you up-to-date with news of
the university, your classmates, alum
ni events, and chapter activities, we
need to have your current mailing ad
dress and telephone number on file.
Jeff Howe examines one of the specimens in the Division of Fishes collection, Smithsonian
Institution.
Look for news
about Alumni
Chapter activities
in upcoming
editions of
UNCW
Today,
Frank Bowen
Please contact the Alumni Associ
ation, Office of Advancement if your
address or phone number changes.
Again, congratulations and wel
come! We are proud of your accom
plishments as students and we are
eager for your involvement and sup
port as alumni.
UNCW
Alumni Association
UNCW Today is pubBshed four timea »
year by the University of
ment Ofece of Hie University of North
Carolina at Wilmington, Witanng1^n>
N.C. 28403-3297. Postage paid ^ WU-
mington, N.C.
University Advancement Office
F. Douglas Moore, vice chancellor
for university advancement
M. Tyrone RoweU, associate viM
chanceUor for university advance-
ment t
Mimi Cunningham, exMUtjve dtfcc*
tor of university relations
Renee R. Brantley, UNCW Today
executive editor
Allison Relos, UNCW Today editor
Patsy Larrick, Alumnotes e«tor ^_
Howard Lipman, executive dirMto
of resource development ,
W.Frank Bowen, director of alumm
commftted to equ^y of «duc»tion«J op|»rtu™ J
and do« not discrumn»te
d^ti, or etiiploye** IwMd on r»ce,
to nm »nd aeUYely nS!*
by recreiUng wid eim)uing »
her of bbek stodenta.