In the Light of Evolution III:
Two Centuries of Darwin

Meeting Overview

The year 2009 will mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of his most influential publication, On the Origin of Species, in which he developed the equally revolutionary concept that a natural but non-random process—natural selection—yields biological adaptations that otherwise can give a superficial impression of intelligent conscious design.
 
This colloquium will bring together leading evolutionary biologists and science historians to reflect upon and commemorate the Darwinian Revolution.  One goal of this symposium will be to canvass modern scientific thought and research approaches regarding each of the three main categories of selection (natural, artificial, and sexual) that Darwin addressed during his career.  Although Darwin is associated most often with his elucidation of natural selection in The Origin, he also thought and wrote extensively about artificial and sexual selection, as reflected for example in two other books titled, respectively, The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication (1869) and The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex (1871).  Other goals of this colloquium will be to place Darwin’s seminal contributions in historical perspective, and in general to celebrate Darwin’s ongoing scientific legacy.

See Program Agenda 

Registration

Click Here to Register

Registrations are limited to 230 and will be accepted online only when the registration fee is included and in the order in which they are received.  The registration fee includes some meals and a reception (see agenda).

Before December 15
Early Registration                                                             $250
Graduation and Postdoctoral Student Registration          $150

After December 15 all registrations                                 $350

Online registration accepts MasterCard and Visa only.  To arrange payment via University Department or company check, please contact sackler@nas.edu.

Hotel Information

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa at the federal per diem rate of $128 plus tax per night, single or double until December 10, 2008.  Your registration confirmation email will include a link enabling you to reserve a room in the discount block.  After December 10, we cannot guarantee that the discount rate or a room will be available.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Student Travel Awards

To facilitate participattion by younger researchers, the organizers will award a minimum of 25 travel reimbursements.
 $125 hotel reimbursement - must live >50 miles from Irvine (roommate matching available by request)
 $150 maximum airfare transportation reimbursement - CA, NV, and AZ residents
 $300 maximum airfare/transportation reimbursement - outside CA, NV, and AZ area

Application for travel awards are on a first come basis and approved as registration, including payment, is received.  Reimbursements are made after the colloqium with receipts.