The Missouri Academy of Science invites college and university admissions representatives to attend the annual MAS meeting. Admission is free for representatives from MAS institutional member colleges or universities. This event is an excellent opportunity to engage with some of Missouri’s top students in natural sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, computer science, and mathematics. Interested admissions representatives should complete this form by March 30, 2026. (Missouri Academy of Science Annual Meeting Invitation to Admission Representatives – Fill out form) If there are questions, please contact Tiger Gordon via email. (jgordon@centralmethodist.edu)

Please note: Each institution is limited to one table per day. 

Patrick Market is a Professor of Atmospheric Science, and the Director of the School of Natural Resources at the University of Missouri. He earned his B.S. in meteorology from Millersville University of Pennsylvania in 1994, and his M.S.(R) and Ph D degrees from Saint Louis University in 1996 and 1999, respectively. Dr. Market began his career at MU in 1999. Since then, he has taught hundreds of meteorologists now working in broadcasting, the National Weather Service, the US Navy, the US Air Force, and private industry. His research explored issues in heavy rain and snow forecasting, including the occurrence of thundersnow, elevated convection, and flash flooding. Dr. Market’s work has been conducted with funding from such sources as NSF, NOAA, NASA and the National Geographic Society. Market has been a member of the Missouri Academy of Science since 1995 and served as a section chair for Atmospheric Science many times.

Overview: 

Based upon NASA produced LiDAR data, Dr. Daniel Pierce and Christopher Bodine of Missouri State University and Terra Incognita Research Institute have recently made some incredible finds deep within the Amazon Jungle. Using these data, in early 2025, they identified evidence of an unknown ancient city shrouded by the thick jungle canopy. This evidence included the identification of large geoglyphs – man made geometric earthen features built into the landscape. Recently, in December of 2025, the duo travelled to Brazil, went 200 miles upriver, and off into the jungle to confirm their discoveries made from Missouri. Their expedition proved even more successful than they had hoped, with not only the confirmation of the geoglyphs, but a wide array of other pieces of evidence suggesting a large complex society once lived here, with a population likely numbering in the thousands over 1000 years ago.  In this presentation, Pierce and Bodine will discuss their expedition and findings. The struggles and successes. The hardships and the stories. But most importantly, the evidence they discovered and their plans moving forward. Come join in the adventure with us.

Bios:

Dr. Daniel Piere is a Research Archaeologist with the Center for Archaeological Research at Missouri State University as well as co-founder and lead researcher with Terra Incognita Research Institute. Receiving his PhD from Mizzou, he has since worked for Mizzou, the Universite de Bordeaux (France), and the University of Central Florida before coming to MSU. He has published more than 30 scientific articles and book chapters and has worked on projects across the globe. His work highlights geospatial and geochemical analysis as well as the study of ancient materials coupled with Anthropological theory. He is a member of the Registry of Professional archaeologists, Society for America Archaeology, American Anthropological Association, and was recently named a fellow of the Explorers Club.

Christopher Bodine is a co-founder and lead researcher at the Terra Incognita Research Institute. He is also a part-time Research Archaeologist at Missouri State and is currently a PhD student in Archaeology and Geoscience at the University of Arkansas.  He has worked at the Archaeometry Laboratory of the University of Missouri Research Reactor, the Oklahoma Geological Survey, and the Remote Sensing Lab at Saint Louis University.  As an archaeologist, he has worked in Israel, Belgium, the UK, and the U.S. Chris is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers Club and is a member of the Registry of Professional Archaeologists.