Evolution Speaker Series

2009

2009 is the bicentennial of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of The Origin of Species. The field of evolutionary biology has come a long way in the past 150 years. Research in evolution provides insights in areas of immediate social relevance such as medicine, agriculture, and conservation.  In addition, evolutionary research has shed light on the understanding of the origins of life, the path of human evolution, and the complex ecological relationships necessary for life.  This year, NESCent, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and the Keck Center at North Carolina State University are pleased to sponsor a series of free public presentations on evolution and evolutionary research.  In addition to invited speakers from other areas, the series will take advantage of the strong evolutionary biology community at the local universities and provide an opportunity for the public to meet  outstanding researchers from local univeristies.  Presentations will be held at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences throughout the year. 

Speakers

Carl Zimmer

February 12, 2009

"Darwin and Beyond: How Evolution is Evolving"

Rob Dunn

March 31, 2009

"Life After Darwin: Are there still big discoveries to be made in biology?"

Anne Yoder

July 9, 2009

"Madagascar's Magnificent Biodiversity:  What Would Darwin Say?"

Dale Russell

September 29, 2009

"Islands in the Cosmos: The Evolution of Life on Land"

Paul Brinkman

November 24, 2009

"Charles Darwin's Beagle Voyage and the Origin of 'The Origin'"

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ZimmerCarl Zimmer

"Darwin and Beyond: How Evolution Is Evolving"
February 12, 2009

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Please join us for a Darwin Day presentation by Carl Zimmer.  Mr. Zimmer is well known for his popular science writing, particularly his work on evolution.  He has published several books including Soul Made Flesh, a history of the brain, Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea, At the Water's Edge, a book about major transitions in the history of life, The Smithsonian Intimate Guide to Human Origins; and his latest book Microcosm: E. coli and the New Science of Life.  Mr. Zimmer contributes to the New York Times, National Geographic, Discover, Scientific American, Science, and Popular Science.  He also maintains an award winning blog The Loom

Talk Overview: Charles Darwin launched the modern science of evolution, but he hardly had the last word. In fact, today scientists are discovering that evolution works in ways Darwin himself could not have imagined. In my talk I will celebrate Darwin's achievements by looking at the newest discoveries about evolution, from the emergence of life to the dawn of humanity.

 

 

 

 

 

Carl Zimmer's February 12, 2009 presentation at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences can be viewed here:

(Download from iTunes U)

YouTube

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Rob Dunn

"Life After Darwin: Are There Still Big Discoveries to be Made in Biology?"

March 31 , 2009

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Rob Dunn

Dr. Rob Dunn is an Assistant Professor of Ecology in the Biology Department at North Carolina State University as well as an up-and-coming science popularizer. His work has appeared in Natural History, BBC Wildlife, Scientific American, Smithsonian and Seed Magazine.  Additionally, Dr. Dunn is funded by NASA, the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, among others, for work on biodiversity and conservation and has published in numerous research journals including Science.

He is also the author of the recently released and critically acclaimed book EVERY LIVING THING: Man’s Obsessive Quest to Catalog Life, from Nanobacteria to New Monkeys.  A book signing will follow his talk. 

This event is free, but the museum requests participants pre-register.  Register for the talk by sending an email to museum.reservations@ncmail.net. Please include your name, your email address and mention that this is in reference to Rob Dunn ’s talk.

 

Location:

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

11 W. Jones St.

Raleigh, NC 27601-1029

Directions to the Museum and Parking Information

 

 

 

Rob Dunn's March 31, 2009 presentation at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences can be viewed here:

(Download from iTunes U)

YouTube

If you can see this text instead of a movie, you need to install or update Adobe's Flash Player (go to http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer).

Back to Top

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Anne_YoderAnne Yoder

"Madagascar's Magnificent Biodiversity:  What Would Darwin Say?"

July 9, 2009

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Dr. Yoder is a Professor of Biology and Biological Anthropology and Anatomy at Duke University and the Director of the Duke Lemur Center.  Her research focuses on the unique biodiversity of Madagascar.  She has been awarded numerous National Science Foundation and L.S.B. Leakey Foundation grants for her research. Those studies have concentrated on the genetics and evolution of mammals, especially lemurs, and on the biodiversity and "biogeography" -- the study of the geographic distribution of species -- of Madagascar.

 

Location:

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

11 W. Jones St.

Raleigh, NC 27601-1029

Directions to the Museum and Parking Information

 

 

 

 

 

Anne Yoder's July 9, 2009 presentation at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences can be viewed here:

(Download from iTunes U)

YouTube

If you can see this text instead of a movie, you need to install or update Adobe's Flash Player (go to http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer).

 

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Dale A. Russell

"Islands in the Cosmos: The Evolution of Life on Land"

September 29 , 2009

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Dale A. Russell

Dale Russell, Senior Curator of Paleontology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and Research Professor Emeritus at North Carolina State University, has long been fascinated by the evolution and ultimate extinction of dinosaur-dominated ecosystems. Field excursions have taken him to western North America, Arctic Canada, the Chinese Gobi and most recently the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. He finds the biota of the coastal plain and low country of the Carolinas to be hauntingly reminiscent of environments that once existed 75 million years ago in the Cretaceous interior of North America. So does the biota of the islands of New Caledonia in the South Pacific and the barren highlands of the central Sahara. These relicts of ancient biosystems inform us of our own place in space-time, the topic of Dr. Russell’s presentation.

 

Location:

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

11 W. Jones St.

Raleigh, NC 27601-1029

Directions to the Museum and Parking Information

 

 

 

 

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Paul Brinkman

"Charles Darwin's Beagle Voyage and the Origin of 'The Origin'"

November 24, 2009

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Paul Brinkman

Paul Brinkman completed his PhD in History of Science at the University of Minnesota. His research interest is in the history of nineteenth century natural sciences, especially geology and paleontology. He has published a number of articles on Charles Darwin, on museum history, and on the history of American vertebrate paleontology. His second book, The Second American Jurassic Dinosaur Rush, is due next year from the University of Chicago Press. He works as a curator and a research assistant professor at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North Carolina State University.

 

Location:

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

11 W. Jones St.

Raleigh, NC 27601-1029

Directions to the Museum and Parking Information

 

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The Evolution Speaker Series is funded by NESCent, the National Science Foundation, Duke University's Provost's Office, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and the Keck Center at North Carolina State University. With additional support from the Society for the Study of Evolution

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