Dr. John Maerz, a recently hired assistant professor in the wildlife ecology and management program at the Warnell School, and a handful of herpetology enthusiasts around the community started the University of Georgia Herpetological Society (UGHS) in the Fall semester of 2005. Herpetology, the study of reptiles and amphibians, is becoming a popular science in the field of wildlife biology.

The organization is comprised of students, faculty, staff, and members of the community and has already registered more than 75 members. Club meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month. In addition to holding regular club meetings, UGHS members have started a student-driven outreach program with the purpose of educating community members about native reptiles and amphibians in an effort to create more awareness and fuel conservation efforts. For more information:

• visit the UGHS website.
• Dr. Maerz Herpetology Lab Website.