TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Charles Darwin is turning 205, and The University of Alabama is having a party.
The community is invited to Darwin Day from noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 12, at UA’s Alabama Museum of Natural History in Smith Hall. The free event is a collaborative effort between the University’s Evolutionary Studies Club, biology graduate assistants, the Evolutionary Studies Working Group and the museum.
“Darwin Day is an international event,” said Dr. Dana Ehret, the museum’s curator of paleontology. “It’s an opportunity for campuses and museums worldwide to celebrate his contributions to science.”
Darwin Day at UA will not only be educational, but fun, Ehret said. In addition to several evolution lectures, the event will also include interactive exhibits, evolution trivia, K-12 poster exhibit, movie night, pictures with Darwin (or graduate students dressed up as Darwin) and even a cake competition.
“It’s really important to engage the entire community,” Ehret said. “We want to share our experiences and research with others and show students what they can grow up to be and do themselves.”
Darwin Day Lecture Series schedule:
Noon to 1 p.m. — Dr. Leslie J. Rissler, UA associate professor of biological sciences — “This View of Life: How Understanding Evolution Can Transform You.”
1:10 to 1:40 p.m. — Dr. Dana J. Ehret, curator of paleontology, UA’s Alabama Museum of Natural History — “Darwin and Paleontology: A Hunt for the Missing Intermediates.”
1:50 to 2:20 p.m. — Dr. Erik Peterson, UA assistant professor of history — “Am I Not a Man and a Brother? Why Darwin Opposed Slavery — and Americans Opposed Darwin.”
2:50 to 3:05 p.m. — Lauren Pratt — “Human Evolution at the Hearth: The Influence of Fire on Human Psychophysiology.”
3:10 to 3:25 p.m. — J. Brett Smith, Geological Survey of Alabama, “Beyond Paleo and Towards Ancestral Health.”
3:30 to 4 p.m. — break, cake competition and refreshments, K-12 student poster exhibit
4 to 5 p.m. — Dr. Steven Platek, associate professor of psychology, Georgia Gwinnett College
5:30 to 7 p.m. — movie
Contact
Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu
Source
Dr. Leslie Rissler, 205/348-4052, rissler@as.ua.edu; Sarah Duncan, president, UA Biology Graduate Assistants, 865/850-4734, duncansarah3@gmail.com; Taylor Burbach, UA Evolutionary Studies Club, rtburbach@gmail.com; Dr. Dana Ehret, 205/348-7425, djehret@ua.edu