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Seventh MACPS Meeting

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11 am - 5 pm on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at the University of Pennsylvania

Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM), 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104​

Our seventh meeting was co-sponsored by the NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiology - thank you to them for hosting! We were delighted to hear a talk by Stephen Williams, professor emeritus of biology at Lebanon Valley College and an internationally-known expert on carnivorous plants who significantly advanced understanding of how carnivorous plants capture prey, who showed us that the name Venus "flytrap" is really a misnomer. We were also honored to have a workshop given by Guy Genin, co-director of the NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiology at Washington University in St. Louis, who flew from his recent visit to China to show us the electrophysiology behind Venus flytrap closure and demonstrate, live, the action potential generated! After our plant auction, many of us headed to the nearby Bartram's Garden for a tour of the grounds. We learned about John Bartram's connection to early carnivorous plant discoveries and saw the collection of carnivorous plants maintained at the garden. Thanks to everyone who attended this informative, busy, and exciting day!

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MACPS members get to know each other over lunch

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Kevin makes some introductory remarks

Kevin Business Meeting

Kevin leads the business meeting and introduces the MACPS officers

Bog Info

Sheila tells members about what they can expect on our summer field trip to Tannersville Bog

Stephen Williams 2

Dr. Stephen Williams, professor emeritus of biology at Lebanon Valley College, explains flytrap prey capture

Stephen Williams 3

Dr. Stephen Williams, professor emeritus of biology at Lebanon Valley College, explains flytrap prey capture

Stephen Williams

Dr. Stephen Williams, professor emeritus of biology at Lebanon Valley College, explains flytrap prey capture

Trap Mechanics

Dr. Guy Genin, professor of mechanobiology at Washington University in St. Louis, discusses Venus flytrap trap mechanics

Guy Genin 1

Dr. Guy Genin, professor of mechanobiology at Washington University in St. Louis, discusses Venus flytrap trap mechanics

Oscilloscope

Drs. Genin and Wells set up an experiment to demonstrate the action potential produced by a Venus flytrap

Oscilloscope 2

Oscilloscope readings showing the action potential produced by a Venus flytrap upon closure

Flytrap Workshop

Members draw dots on flytrap leaves to learn about the changes in trap structure upon closing

Flytrap Workshop 2

Members draw dots on flytrap leaves to learn about the changes in trap structure upon closing

Flytrap Workshop 3

The exterior of a flytrap leaf is stretched upon trap closure

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Some of the plants available for auction

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Some of the plants available for auction

Auction Table

Some of the plants available for auction

Start of Tour

Members begin on a guided tour of Bartram's Garden

Bartrams Tour

Members tour Bartram's Garden

Along pond

Members tour Bartram's Garden

Along pond 2

Members tour Bartram's Garden

Tour of Bartrams Garden

Members tour Bartram's Garden

CPs at Bartram 2

The carnivorous plant collection at Bartram's Garden

CPs at Bartram

The carnivorous plant collection at Bartram's Garden

Apple Cider press

An apple cider press carved in bedrock at Bartram's Garden

Franklin Tree

A Franklinia Tree (Franklinia alatamaha) at Bartram's Garden

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The inside of Bartram's house

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The inside of Bartram's house

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The inside of Bartram's house

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The inside of Bartram's house

Bartram House

The inside of Bartram's house

Photo credits to James McGonigle, Christine Keys, and Sheila Garl. 

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