Fall 2009 Season 

Thursday, December 10, 7:00 pm
Evolution and the Future of the Earth
The Darwinian revolution began in a new understanding of how species change through time by means of natural selection, and in every aspect of their biology. It affirms that each species, including our own, is genetically adapted in exquisite detail for life in a particular environment. The revolution also laid the groundwork for understanding how species multiply. The studies of adaptation through time and the diversity of the millions of other species are the core of evolutionary biology. The relevance of these studies for our self-understanding as a biological species is enormous. Further, a knowledge of the biodiversity is crucial to the future of medical research and practice of public health. We have scarcely begun: likely fewer than ten percent of living species are known to science today, and they are being extinguished at an accelerating rate by human activity. Functional biology, including medical research, will do well to incorporate the study of biodiversity and the process of evolution that has created it.

E.O. Wilson, Ph.D. (NAS) is currently University Research Professor Emeritus at Harvard, and Honorary Curator in Entomology of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. He is the recipient of more than 100 international medals and awards, including the National Medal of Science and the Audubon Medal of the National Audubon Society. He is the author of 25 books two of which won Pulitzer Prizes. He is the conceptual creator of the Encyclopedia of Life.

Please note that, due to high demand, we are not able to accomodate any group reservations for this event.  We are planning extra overflow seating and the lecture will be webcast live.  Free tickets for auditorium seating will be distributed beginning at 6 p.m., followed by ticket distribution for overflow seating in the Dining Room.  After all the tickets are distributed, patrons will be advised to watch the lecture online via live web-cast.

Webcast Instructions:

We will be streaming with Windows Media 9, most computers with Windows 2000 or better should have no problem viewing the video.  Windows Media Player is required to view the webcasts.  If you need the latest Windows Media Player, please click on the link below:

Windows Media Player Download

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/download/download.aspx

For MACs

Installing Flip4Mac WMV you can play Windows Media files in QuickTime Player and view Windows Media content on the Internet using Safari and other web browsers.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/wmcomponents.mspx

In order to test your Windows Media Player and connection, please click on the picture-link below.  If your connection is working, a 60 second Video Intro with music will play.

Webcast Test

In order to watch the live webcast, you will need to click on the link below.  The link will be active one hour before the start of the webcast on December 10, 2008.

Watch the Web-cast live on December 10 7 p.m.