Colloquium

Join us weekly for the Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology Colloquium! Renowned scientists and educators present original research and perspectives, and meet one-on-one with faculty and graduate students, fostering collaboration and strengthening connections across the scientific community.

Spring 2026 schedule of speakers

This series features speakers every Thursday from 4 to 4:50 p.m. during the weeks in which classes are held.

The talks are located in the Davidson Math and Science Center (DMS), Room 102.

EECB speaker schedule
Date Speaker Institution Talk title
January 22, 2026 No colloquium speaker, class meeting None None
January 29, 2026 Victoria Luizzi University of Nevada, Reno TBD
February 5, 2026 Paul Montagna Texas A&M University River flow to the coast is not water run to waste
February 12, 2026 Meet Zandawala University of Nevada, Reno TBD
February 19, 2026 Jolene Saldivar San Diego State University TBD
February 26, 2026 Chris Gienger Austin Peay State University TBD
March 5, 2026 Philip Washbourne University of Oregon The social lives of zebrafish
March 12, 2026 Brian Trevelline Kent State University TBD: microbiome
March 19, 2026 Albert Ruhi University of California, Berkeley TBD: conservation
March 26, 2026 No colloquium speaker, WCSD spring break None None
April 2, 2026 Tara Massad Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique and Oregon State University TBD
April 9, 2026 Fran Sandmeier Colorado State University Pueblo TBA: tortoise immunology
April 16, 2026 Facundo Scordo University of Nevada, Reno Tahoe Institute for Global Sustainability and Biology Department TBD: wildfire and freshwater
April 23, 2026 Stephen Nowicki Duke University TBD: animal communication, cognition, and behavior
April 30, 2026 Brian Todd University of California, Davis TBD: animal conservation
May 7, 2026 No colloquium, finals week None None

Instructions for students and faculty

Endowed lectureships

The EECB Colloquium Series has become an integral part of the University's scientific community. The program is supported in part by generous donations. Every year, the program recognizes and invites two prominent scientists in the areas of Conservation Biology and Natural History. These lectureships recognize EECB’s deep commitment to conducting fundamental and use-inspired research on how organisms function in the natural environment.

List of current and past endowed lecturers

The Peter F. Brussard Memorial Lectureship in Conservation Biology

Peter F. Brussard, Ph.D., was a beloved Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno, who passed away in 2018.  As a professor, Dr. Brussard produced over forty doctorate and master's students, virtually all of whom still work to promote the conservation or restoration of biological diversity. Furthermore, Dr. Brussard played a significant role in the international conservation movement, establishing the Society of Conservation Biology and organizing its first national and international meeting.  He also co-founded the Nevada Biodiversity Initiative, which has raised millions of dollars for teaching and research to study and protect Nevada’s rich wildlife.  He played an active role at state, national, and international levels advocating a science-based approach to the conservation of biological resources.

The Gary L. Vinyard Memorial Lectureship in Natural History

Gary L. Vinyard, Ph.D., was a professor of Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno.  An excellent educator, Dr. Vinyard’s enthusiasm and unbridled joy for biology generally, and aquatic ecology specifically, attracted students to his classes and to his laboratory.  Dr. Vinyard was also prolific, having published 43 scientific papers and mentoring 21 graduate students. And he was a major contributor to the conservation of Great Basin systems and organisms two of which were named in his honor: Pyrgulopsis vinyardi and Cyclocypris vinyardi.