Human Evolution Focus of UAlbany "Darwin Day" Lectures
Student-organized event celebrates Charles Darwin's scientific contributions

Contact(s):  Catherine Herman (518) 956-8150, ([email protected])

ALBANY, N.Y. (February 7, 2008) -- For the first time, the University at Albany will host "Darwin Day" activities on February 8 to celebrate evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin's impact on modern science and his upcoming birthday. Activities will be highlighted by a keynote address by Patrick Barclay, Department of Neurobiology, Cornell University, who will discuss Survival of the Generous: Game Theory and the Evolution of Human Altruism at 7:30 p.m. in the D'Ambra Auditorium, Life Sciences Building.

Darwin was the first of the evolutionary biologists and the originator of the concept of natural selection. Darwin is renowned for his groundbreaking works, The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871).

"One of the purposes of Darwin Day is to have an educated discussion on the theory of evolution," said organizer Jeremy Atkinson, second-year doctoral student in biopsychology.

Activities will also include lectures by University at Albany faculty and a series of brief research presentations and posters by UAlbany graduate students. All lectures, which are free and open to the public, will be held in the D'Ambra Auditorium, Life Sciences Building, University at Albany, uptown campus.

• Patrick Barclay, Department of Neurobiology, Cornell University, Survival of the Generous: Game Theory and the Evolution of Human Altruism, 7:30 p.m.
• Mary Gonder, Department of Biology, University at Albany, Genomic Differences Between Apes and Humans, 6 p.m.
• David Strait, Department of Anthropology, University at Albany, Climate Change and Human Evolution, 1 p.m.
• Gordon Gallup Jr., Department of Psychology, University at Albany, Competition for Paternity: The Impact of Evolution on Human Genital Morphology and Behavior, 11 a.m.