January 31, 2006
Video - Origins Symposium Talks Online
The presentations from the Jan. 20 Origins Symposium are now available online as streaming Windows Media video files. PDF versions of the speakers' PowerPoint presentations can also be downloaded from this page.
Posted at 11:42 AM
January 30, 2006
Audio - Eugenie Scott interview on WJR
During her visit to Ann Arbor to deliver a talk in the Distinguished Speaker Series, Dr. Eugenie Scott was a guest on the Frank Beckmann show on local AM radio station WJR. You can hear a streaming Windows Media version of their conversation here, or download an MP3 version.
Posted at 07:27 PM
Event - Variation, Development, and Evolution of the Hominoid Vertebral Column
Wednesday, February 1
Variation, development, and evolution of the hominoid vertebral column
David Pilbeam, Department of Anthropology, Harvard University
Academic seminar offered by the Explore Evolution Theme Semester, Museum of Paleontology, Museum of Anthropology, and Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
12 noon, 2009 Ruthven Museums Building, 1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor
Posted at 12:51 PM
Event - Evolution of Infectious Diseases: From Host-parasite Arms Races to Superbugs
Saturday, February 4
Evolution of Infectious Diseases: from host-parasite arms races to superbugs
Johannes Foufopoulos, School of Natural Resources and the Environment
Saturday Morning Physics Series
10:30 am, 170 Dennison, 500 Church St., Ann Arbor
(arrive early, seats fill quickly)
Pathogens have always existed in a changing environment where keeping up with the quickly shifting immune defenses of the host is key for survival. Because of their impressive capacity to respond rapidly to change, bacteria and viruses have been able to evolve multiple molecular answers to many of today’s antibiotics. Learn how the rise of antibiotic resistance can impact your life and what is being done to deal with this challenge.
Posted at 12:47 PM
Event - Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
Friday, February 3
Breaking the Spell: religion as a natural phenomenon
Daniel Dennett, Philosophy, Tufts University
Evolution and Culture Colloquium Series
10:30 am, Rackham Amphitheater, Rackham School of Graduate Studies, 915. E. Washington St., Ann Arbor
Posted at 12:46 PM
Event - Distinguished Speaker: David Pilbeam
Wednesday, February 1
Forty years of thinking about the origins of the human lineage
David Pilbeam, Harvard University
Distinguished Speaker Series
7 pm, 1800 Chemistry, 830 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor
Reception following in Chemistry atrium
Ideas about when and where the first hominids evolved, why they evolved, and what they and their immediate ape ancestors looked like, changed considerably over the past half-century. In discussing these shifts I will also reflect on what it has been like to participate in this rapidly changing field.
You can view Dr. Pilbeam's biography (PDF) or a list of selected scientific articles on the Explore Evolution website.
Posted at 12:42 PM
Event - Workshop: Evolution and the Nature of Science
Monday, January 30
Evolution and the Nature of Science
Workshop for Undergraduates
5:30-7:30, Exhibit Museum of Natural History, 1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor
A few spaces remain in this workshop. Please pre-register in the Curriculum section of http://www.umich.edu/evolution.
See previous entry for details.
Posted at 12:38 PM
January 23, 2006
Event - Nanomedicine: a New Frontier for Physics
Saturday, January 28
Nanomedicine: a New Frontier for Physics
Jens-Christian Meiners, Physics, University of Michigan
Saturday Morning Physics series
10:30 am, 170 Dennison Building, 500 Church St., Ann Arbor
(arrive early — seats fill quickly)
Life emerges on the nanometer length scale between the size of a molecule and a cell. Discover the often surprising and counterintuitive physical principles that govern biological systems on that scale, and look at how they inspire new approaches in the development of medical diagnostics and therapeutics.
Posted at 12:31 PM
Event - Jonathan Weiner, Author of The Beak of the Finch
Friday, January 27
Jonathan Weiner
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author of
The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time
Presented by Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads
7:30 pm, Morris Lawrence Building, Washtenaw Community College
Visit http://www.aadl.org/aareads for details
Posted at 12:29 PM
Event - The Folk Psychology of Souls
Friday, January 27
The Folk Psychology of Souls
Jesse Bering, Psychology, University of Arkansas
Evolution and Culture Colloquium Series
10:30 am, 4448 East Hall, 530 Church St., Ann Arbor
Posted at 12:28 PM
Event - Workshop: Evolution and the Nature of Science
Thursday, January 26
Evolution and the Nature of Science
Workshop for Undergraduates
5:30-7:30 Exhibit Museum of Natural History
See previous entry for details.
Posted at 12:26 PM
Event - Distinguished Speaker: Eugenie C. Scott
Wednesday, January 25
Intelligent Design and the Creationism/Evolution Controversy
Eugenie C. Scott, National Center for Science Education
Distinguished Speaker Series
7 pm, 1800 Chemistry Bldg., 930 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor
Reception following in Chemistry Atrium
"Intelligent Design" (ID) is a new form of creationism that emerged after legal decisions in the 1980s hampered the inclusion of "creation science" in the public school curriculum. ID consists of a scientific/scholarly effort, and a politico-religious movement of "cultural renewal." In the 20 years since ID appeared, there has been no evidence of it being used to solve problems in biology. Although the scientific/scholarly part of ID has been a failure, the "cultural renewal" part of ID has been a success, as supporters of ID seek "restoration" of a theistic sensibility in American culture to replace what they consider an overemphasis on secularism.
You can view Dr. Scott's biography (PDF) or a list of selected scientific articles on the Explore Evolution website.
Posted at 12:23 PM
Event - Workshop: Evolution and the Nature of Science
Monday, January 23
Evolution and the Nature of Science
Workshop for Undergraduates
5:30-7:30, Exhibit Museum of Natural History, 1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor
This session is full. Nine other sessions will be offered on:
Thursday, January 26
Monday, January 30
Thursday, February 9
Monday, February 13
Monday, February 20
Thursday, March 9
Thursday, March 16
Monday, March 20
Monday, April 3
Pre-registration is required. Please register one week in advance, in the Curriculum section of http://www.umich.edu/evolution.
Posted at 12:21 PM
January 16, 2006
Event - Phenomenal Paleozoic: Out of the Water
Sunday, January 22
Phenomenal Paleozoic: Out of the Water
Workshop for children ages 6-11 with an adult
Life Through the Ages Family Science and Reading Program
3 pm, Exhibit Museum of Natural History
Pre-registration required; call (734) 764-0480.
Posted at 12:23 PM
Event - Evolution: The Fossil Record and the Origin of Whales
Saturday, January 21
Evolution: The Fossil Record and the Origin of Whales
Philip Gingerich, Museum of Paleontology and Geological Sciences, University of Michigan
Saturday Morning Physics series
10:30 am, 170 Dennison Building
Evolution is a science of change through time, founded in the 18th and 19th centuries to describe and explain fossils that geologists observed to differ in successive layers of the earth’s crust. Microevolutionary studies in paleontology link species through close intermediates and address change on short time scales. Macroevolutionary studies trace profound changes in body plans through longer intervals, as seen in the origin and early evolution of whales.
Posted at 12:21 PM
Event - Origins Symposium: The Universe, Earth, and Life
Friday, January 20
Symposium
Origins: The Universe, Earth, and Life
1:10-6:30 pm, Modern Languages Building Auditorium 3
1:10 PM
Introduction to the symposium
Terrence J. McDonald, Dean of the College of Literature Science and the
Arts, University of Michigan
1:20
From before the Big Bang through the first million years
Katherine Freese, U-M Department of Physics
1:50
The first million years through the first 9 billion years
Douglas O. Richstone, U-M Department of Astronomy
2:20
The next 4 billion years: making Earth a habitable planet
Stephen E. Kesler, U-M Department of Geological Sciences
2:50
Questions and discussion
3:10
Coffee Break
3:40
The tree of life: Darwinian chemistry as the evolutionary force from cyanic acid to living molecules and cells
Nils G. Walter, U-M Department of Chemistry
4:10
The tree of life: exploring evolutionary pathways through fossil evidence
Daniel C. Fisher, U-M Museum of Paleontology and Department of Geological Sciences
4:40
The tree of life: exploring evolutionary pathways from extant life
Yin-Long Qiu, U-M Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
5:10
Questions and discussion
5:30
13.7 billion years: the summary
Gordon Kane, U-M Department of Physics
5:50-6:30
Meet the speakers reception
Posted at 12:17 PM
Event - Our Inner Ape: Human Nature As Seen By a Primatologist
Friday, January 20
Our Inner Ape: human nature as seen by a primatologist
Frans de Waal, Psychology, Emory University
Evolution and Culture Colloquium Series
10:30 am, Rackham Amphitheater
Rackham School of Graduate Studies, 915 E. Washington St.
Posted at 12:15 PM
January 09, 2006
Event - Carl Zimmer: Evolution in the News
Saturday, January 14
Evolution in the News
Carl Zimmer, author and news writer
2 pm, 1528 C.C. Little Building, 1100 North University Ave., Ann Arbor
Evolution isn't just ancient history. It's also the stuff of cutting-edge science. Carl Zimmer, a frequent contributor to The New York Times, talks about his experiences covering the latest developments in evolutionary biology, from the human genome to the origins of snake venom.
Posted at 02:09 PM
Event - "Explore Evolution" Exhibit Opening Celebration
Saturday, January 14
"Explore Evolution" Exhibit Opening Celebration
9 am – 5 pm, Exhibit Museum of Natural History
1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor
A major new exhibit at the Exhibit Museum of Natural History, funded by the National Science Foundation. Explore evolution from the smallest to the largest organisms in this interactive exhibit presenting the work of seven current evolutionary scientists.
- Get to know the fossil evidence for evolution: cast a fossil to take home
- Meet one of the scientists featured in the exhibit : Philip Gingerich, Director of the U-M Museum of Paleontology, will be on hand to answer questions about his research on whale evolution from 10 am to 1 pm
- Find out how whale fossils are prepared for study and display and explore whale evolution with U-M Research Scientist Bill Sanders from 1 pm to 4 pm
- Construct an evolutionary timeline
- See a DNA extraction and learn why genetic evidence is crucial for determining how organisms are related
- Learn about upcoming university and community programming on the topic of Evolution, including
- Winter 2006 LSA Theme Semester, Explore Evolution
- Ann Arbor /Ypsilanti Reads
- Family Reading and Science, Ann Arbor District Library
- Winter 2006 LSA Theme Semester, Explore Evolution
Posted at 02:01 PM
Event - Distinguished Speaker: Svante Pääbo
Friday, January 13
“The Quest for the Genes that Make Us Human”
Svante Pääbo, Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology
Explore Evolution Distinguished Speaker Series
8 pm, 1800 Chemistry, 930 North University Ave., Ann Arbor
Reception following in Chemistry atrium
One approach to understanding what makes humans unique as a species is to perform structural and functional comparisons between the genomes of humans and our closest evolutionary relatives, the great apes. Recently, the draft sequence of the chimpanzee genome has opened up new possibilities in this area. Pääbo will describe work that compares the DNA sequences and activities of human and chimpanzee genes and discuss evidence that suggests that genes expressed in the brain may have been particularly important during human evolution.
You can view Dr. Pääbo's biography (PDF) or a list of selected scientific articles on the Explore Evolution website.
Posted at 01:56 PM
Event - "Explore Evolution" Exhibit Preview Reception and Dinner
Friday, January 13
“Explore Evolution” Exhibit Preview Reception and Dinner
5:30-7:30 pm, Exhibit Museum of Natural History
1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor
Tickets: $50, $75, and $100, call (734) 936-5834 by January 9
Reservations required
Posted at 01:55 PM
Event - Gamefish Culture, Intergroup Conflict and Environment
Friday, January 13
Gamefish Culture, Intergroup Conflict and Environment
Douglas Medin, Department of Psychology, Northwestern University
Evolution and Culture Colloquium Series
10:30 am, 4448, East Hall
525 E. University Ave., Ann Arbor
Posted at 01:52 PM
Events - Jaq Chartier exhibition: "Testing"
Seattle artist Jaq Chartier creates art over time through the interaction of various pigments, inks, and dyes with sunlight. The University is proud to host an exhibition of her work "Testing".
“Testing” Exhibition Opens
January 9 through February 17
Osterman Common Room, Institute for the Humanities, 0540 Rackham
915 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor
Monday, January 9
Brown Bag Lecture: “Testing on Sunspots”
Contemporary Seattle artist Jaq Chartier discusses her paintings that evolve over time
Noon, Osterman Common Room, Institute for the Humanities, 0540 Rackham
915 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor
Thursday, January 12
“Testing” Opening Reception and Gallery Talk
Contemporary Seattle artist Jaq Chartier presents paintings that evolve over time
4:30-6:30 pm, Gallery Talk at 5:15 pm, Institute for the Humanities, 0540 Rackham
915 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor
Posted at 01:39 PM
Welcome!
Welcome to the weblog for the Winter 2006 LSA Theme Semester! During the course of this term, the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, the Exhibit Museum, and other units at the University will explore the current state of the theory of biological evolution, from its roots in the writings of Charles Darwin to its current applications in fields as diverse as medicine, ecology, and psychology. To keep abreast of the semester's many events, add this page to your browser's Favorites list, or use the RSS syndication link on the right side of the screen.
Posted at 01:33 PM