Love science and conservation? Want to discover new ways to protect our species? Elle Kaye chats with guests who work within the science genre, but whose job titles may need a little unpacking. Strap in for entomology, taxidermy, diaphonization, pet remains, human pathology and all those that work with specimens. In episode 032 Elle chats with Dr. Allison Shultz about how she became Assistant Curator of Ornithology at NHMLA. We discuss her research in colouration and plumeology, and she gives us an education in why birds look the way that they are and what are the genes that make up colours. We discuss plumage evolution and micro-structure, as well as the role, form and function of feathers. Dr. Allison also discusses her role at the museum and the types of specimens and study-skins she works with. Dr. Allison Shultz Socials https://www.allisonshultz.com https://www.instagram.com/ajshultz622 https://www.Instagram.com/tauraco.designs https://twitter.com/ajshultz622 Profiles NHMLA https://nhm.org/person/shultz-allison https://nhm.org/stories/our-bird-curators-new-perch La Brea Tar Pits Museum https://tarpits.org/ Natural History Museum of Los Angeles https://nhm.org/ San Diego Zoo (live cams link, because, well, live cams) https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams Great Frigate Bird  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_frigatebird Structural Colour Article https://nhm.org/stories/how-and-why-colorful-feathers Turacin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turacin Museum of Vertabrate Zoology https://mvz.berkeley.edu/ “Meet the Scientist” by (NHMLA) video interview with Dr. Allison Shultz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i7i6KBEB8E Articles/Research on Coloration https://www.allisonshultz.com/research Leucism  https://www.audubon.org/news/why-bird-half-white Elle Kaye socials  www.instagram.com/ellekayetaxidermy Podcast socials www.instagram.com/specimenspod www.twitter.com/specimenspod www.patreon.com/specimenspod www.ellekayetaxidermy.co.uk/product-page/specimenspodmerch Artwork © 2021 Madison Erin Mayfield www.instagram.com/madisonerinmayfield https://twitter.com/MEMIllustration Music Giraffes - Harrison Amer via premiumbeat.com Researched, edited and produced by Elle Kaye Concept/Title © 2020 Elle Kaye