Mario Cohn Haft has “finished” an expedition he organized to take 50 scientists of different persuasions to explore, looking for new species, a previously unexplored, uninhabited mountain in northern Brazil, Serra da Mocidade. They made two clearings big enough for Blackhawk helicopters to land, one at 600 meters in elevation and the other just more than 1,000 meters in elevation, with a primitive field camp/lab next to each. The group spent 10 days at the first camp and then moved up to the second for another two weeks, finding more than 80 new species. Most of the new species are insects or other invertebrates, including a new freshwater crab, about a dozen new plant species, a couple frogs, etc. Mario’s group (birds) produced one new bird species, which is pretty good, considering how well known the world’s birds are. A Brazilian documentary company called Grifa Filmes has made a 90-minute movie about the expedition. It should come out in the next month or two in theaters and then be sold to TV channels. Mario wants everyone to know that they’re still finding new species of birds, “which is pretty neat and downright fun. In 2013 colleagues and I published, in the Handbook of Birds of the World, a collection of 15 new bird species descriptions, the most new bird species described in a single volume since the mid 1800s!” He also wants to be sure classmates feel free to come down for a visit. He’d be happy to give an insider’s view of the Amazon and would enjoy (he thinks!) hearing about the latest escapades in the states.

Jim Sterling sent news. Robin Kaiser Gish graduated her daughter, Sophia Gish ’16, who then came to New York in September to pursue an acting career. Robin and Jim connected and Sophia came to a show called The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, in which Jim was playing multiple parts. The show was chosen as a “Top Favorite Show of 2016” in the NY Theater Guide, which called Jim’s performances as six different characters “gripping.”

Peter Kilmarx, M.D., has been promoted to rear admiral (assistant surgeon general) in the U.S. Public Health Service, the country’s uniformed service of public health professionals. An expert in infectious disease research and global health, Peter is deputy director of the National Institutes of Health’s Fogarty International Center, which addresses global health challenges.

Stephen J. Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington professor of political science and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies, has received the prestigious 2017 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award by the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia. It is the state’s highest award for college and university faculty. During the 17 years Steve has taught at UMW he has helped students develop a deeper understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. political and media systems. Along the way he has become a favorite professor, due in particular to his commitment to presenting interesting lectures, thinking of material in new ways and treating students with respect.

—Maren Christensen, P.O. Box 9778, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067; marenjc@yahoo.com