Students celebrate Year of Darwin
2009 marks the 50th year since publication of 'The Origin of Species'
Jessica Powviriya
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: News
Homer Simpson.
That was how William McComas, a professor of science and technology education at the UA, illustrated natural selection in pop culture during the Year of Darwin event in the Arkansas Union Wednesday.
"The order of events is essentially true," McComas said of an introduction to the show of "The Simpsons" and the evolution of Homer. "Even the meteor coming in - there is evidence that an extraterrestrial impact occurred (in history)."
In celebration of Charles Darwin, the event, sponsored by University Relations and Research Frontiers, the UA's research magazine, was commemorating the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and also the 150th year since publication of Darwin's "The Origin of Species."
McComas, who was one of two lecturers at the event, spoke on the life of Darwin, explained the difference of scientific terms such as "theory" and "law," and clarified how evolution by natural selection works.
"Scientists do not disagree about evolution," McComas said. "They sometimes disagree about the mechanism of evolution."
Peter Ungar, department chair of the anthropology department, was the second speaker.
Unger quoted Darwin and said that evolution is not debated.
"There are thousands upon thousands upon thousands of fossils that show human evolution," he said.
Several campus departments had display booths around the lecture area, and a video about McComas and his research in the Galapagos Islands also was shown. The departments represented in booths included biological sciences, anthropology and geosciences.
One table was operated by a group in biological sciences called the Planetary Biodiversity Inventory of Eumycetozoa, or slime molds.
Katie Winsett, a doctoral student in cell and molecular biology, explained how the project related to Darwin and his "The Origin of Species."
"We study the evolutionary history and distribution of organisms and how they are related to other organisms," Winsett said.
Kristin Krueger, a doctoral student, exhibited skulls of previous hominids for the anthropology booth.
"It gives people an opportunity to see fossils, even pick up a cast and look at it," said Jessica Scott, a doctoral student in environmental dynamics and Krueger's tablemate.
The University Bookstore and the University Libraries also were represented with selections of books by or about Darwin. Workers in Mullins Library recently discovered that one of the copies of the "The Origin of Species" in the library's custody is a first edition.
Students seemed to enjoy the presentation and displays.
"I think it's wonderful that they are doing a Darwin Day on campus," said Ron Pursley, a senior anthropology major. "In an academic institution, I don't think professors should cater to non-academic belief systems."
For some students, the present-day celebration tunneled their minds back to high school teachers.
Thomas Chester, a senior biology and psychology major, said he was taught science at a small school in Arkansas from a "very conservative teacher."
"She taught the theory of evolution but stressed that it was only a theory," Chester said.
The hesitation of agreeing with evolution comes from a misunderstanding of what evolution really is, he said.
"I'm not really interested (in the lectures)," said Brian Turner, a senior biology student. "But I don't really debate the theory of evolution."
John Shadwick, a research student for the biological sciences department, said he enjoyed the event.
"I like the way McComas lays out the concepts of science because sometimes it seems it is the vagueness of language that confuses people," Shadwick said.
For additional UA information on events for the Year of Darwin, visit Celebratedarwin.net.
That was how William McComas, a professor of science and technology education at the UA, illustrated natural selection in pop culture during the Year of Darwin event in the Arkansas Union Wednesday.
"The order of events is essentially true," McComas said of an introduction to the show of "The Simpsons" and the evolution of Homer. "Even the meteor coming in - there is evidence that an extraterrestrial impact occurred (in history)."
In celebration of Charles Darwin, the event, sponsored by University Relations and Research Frontiers, the UA's research magazine, was commemorating the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and also the 150th year since publication of Darwin's "The Origin of Species."
McComas, who was one of two lecturers at the event, spoke on the life of Darwin, explained the difference of scientific terms such as "theory" and "law," and clarified how evolution by natural selection works.
"Scientists do not disagree about evolution," McComas said. "They sometimes disagree about the mechanism of evolution."
Peter Ungar, department chair of the anthropology department, was the second speaker.
Unger quoted Darwin and said that evolution is not debated.
"There are thousands upon thousands upon thousands of fossils that show human evolution," he said.
Several campus departments had display booths around the lecture area, and a video about McComas and his research in the Galapagos Islands also was shown. The departments represented in booths included biological sciences, anthropology and geosciences.
One table was operated by a group in biological sciences called the Planetary Biodiversity Inventory of Eumycetozoa, or slime molds.
Katie Winsett, a doctoral student in cell and molecular biology, explained how the project related to Darwin and his "The Origin of Species."
"We study the evolutionary history and distribution of organisms and how they are related to other organisms," Winsett said.
Kristin Krueger, a doctoral student, exhibited skulls of previous hominids for the anthropology booth.
"It gives people an opportunity to see fossils, even pick up a cast and look at it," said Jessica Scott, a doctoral student in environmental dynamics and Krueger's tablemate.
The University Bookstore and the University Libraries also were represented with selections of books by or about Darwin. Workers in Mullins Library recently discovered that one of the copies of the "The Origin of Species" in the library's custody is a first edition.
Students seemed to enjoy the presentation and displays.
"I think it's wonderful that they are doing a Darwin Day on campus," said Ron Pursley, a senior anthropology major. "In an academic institution, I don't think professors should cater to non-academic belief systems."
For some students, the present-day celebration tunneled their minds back to high school teachers.
Thomas Chester, a senior biology and psychology major, said he was taught science at a small school in Arkansas from a "very conservative teacher."
"She taught the theory of evolution but stressed that it was only a theory," Chester said.
The hesitation of agreeing with evolution comes from a misunderstanding of what evolution really is, he said.
"I'm not really interested (in the lectures)," said Brian Turner, a senior biology student. "But I don't really debate the theory of evolution."
John Shadwick, a research student for the biological sciences department, said he enjoyed the event.
"I like the way McComas lays out the concepts of science because sometimes it seems it is the vagueness of language that confuses people," Shadwick said.
For additional UA information on events for the Year of Darwin, visit Celebratedarwin.net.
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