Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

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Darwin Day

Darwin Day Highlights Evolution Education

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This year, graduate students hosted Darwin Day UT, a series of events on campus to promote awareness of the importance of evolution to the study of biology and scientific research at UT and other institutions. Charles Darwin was born February 12, 1809. He is a critical figure in the history of evolutionary biology and during the week of his birthday, graduate students in the UT Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology celebrate his contributions to science.

Events throughout the week included Evolution Trivia, a graduate student research panel discussion, Darwin’s birthday party full of family fun in conjunction with the McClung Museum, and more. Students and faculty on campus may have also seen the large Darwin puppet mascot on the pedestrian walkway handing out flyers and prizes. These events were led by graduate students in the ecology and evolutionary biology department including Hope Ferguson, Wieteke Holthuijzen, Tara Empson, Nicole Lussier, Lauren Lyon, and Krista De Cooke. More than 300 people attended events throughout the week. 

“Understanding evolution is key to understanding our world. For over two decades, Darwin Day at UT has been a fun, inclusive way to educate people about the topic,” said Dr. Brian O’Meara, faculty advisor for Darwin Day.

The tradition of Darwin Day celebrations at UT go back to 1997. UT prides itself on being among the most active institutions in celebrating and promoting evolution education, which is possible with support from several units at UT.

“Darwin Day has historically been an interdepartmental event with generous donations, volunteers, and coordinators from other UT departments. It’s been great working with colleagues across the campus to think of innovative activities, especially during the pandemic,” said Krista De Cooke, Darwin Day President 2020-2022. 

–Story by Sarah Berry

 

Darwin Day 2018

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Darwin Day at UT is hosting 2 events coming up this weekend and early next week!

We have Darwin’s Birthday Party at the McClung Museum on Saturday, Feb. 10th from 1-4pm with cake, scavenger hunts, crafts, and Darwin himself.

Monday, Feb. 12 at 7pm we have Dr. Nizar Ibrahim (discoverer of Spinosaurus, an aquatic dinosaur) coming to campus to give a lecture.

For more information, please visit darwindaytn.org.

Darwin Day Events 2017

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This year marks the 20th year of Darwin Day celebrations at UT! Mark your calendars for the following events, and view the flier!

  • 2/5/2017 Darwin’s Birthday Party
    2 – 4 pm McClung Museum
    Free Party with cake for children!
  • 2/13/2017 Evolution and Science Parade
    12pm The Hill & Pedestrian Walkway
    Come see Darwin, Wallace (Puppets!), and their friends in support of the study of evolution and science parade around UT!
  • 2/13/2017 Dr. Stacey D. Smith Keynote Lecture
    7pm AMB Cox Auditorium
    Beg, borrow and steal: The nefarious history of flower power
    2/14/2017 Dr. Massimo Pigliucci Lecture
    NimBIOS 3:30 pm Room 206

For more details please see http://darwindaytn.org/

Darwin Day 2016

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Darwin “Day” is all next week at UTK: we have events Tuesday (croc evolution), Wednesday (invasion of land, with NIMBioS postdoc Sandy Kawano, and a talk on the Gray Fossil Site), and Thursday (Andy Kramer on anti-evolutionism and human paleontology). Our keynote is Thursday, Feb 11 at 7 pm: Neil Shubin, of Tiktaalik fame (also author of the Your Inner Fish bestselling book and star of the PBS series). There will also be giant Darwin and Wallace puppets roaming campus, Darwin Day swag for sale near the library, outreach to teachers, and much more.   All events are free and open to the public.  Please visit darwindaytn.org for more information!

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Darwin Day begins

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Darwin Day is an international, annual event to celebrate the science of Charles Darwin and promote science education. UT has been hosting one for nearly 20 years. This year’s event features talks on invasive species (by EEB Prof. Sandy Echternacht), a talk on bird evolution (EPS Assistant Prof. Colin Sumrall) and keynote on biogeography by author Alan de Queiroz. The full schedule of events is at http://darwindaytn.org.

Darwin Day Events Continue

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Darwin Day in TN was started in 1997 in EEB. This tradition continues this week with movies, information booth, workshops, and other outreach. Notable events include the keynote talk by Harvard’s Andrew Berry on Wallace, the co-discoverer of natural selection, on Tuesday, Feb 11 at 7 pm in UC Auditorium, a lunch talk by Berry about Darwin and human evolution at 12:30 on Tuesday in Buehler 511, and a talk by NIMBioS postdoc Nick Matzke about the intelligent design controversy at 12:30 on Wednesday in Buehler 511. For more information, see darwindaytn.org.

Grad Student Achievements

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In 2012-2013, thirty-nine EEB grad students submitted progress reports (1st years do not submit a report).  This is what they self-reported:

  • 59 papers published since their last progress reports (in peer-reviewed, international journals, some very high profile; there is some overlap with multi-authored UT authors);
  • 93 presentations given at local, national and international conferences/workshops;
  • $334,796 in grants/fellowships awarded in 12-13 (not counting fellowships awarded in previous years but still funding their research);
  • 3.5 service/outreach activities each, on average (including judging science fairs, manuscript reviews for journals, local events-Darwin Days, Boo at Zoo, etc., talks to the public, press interviews-Knox News, WBIR, Daily Beacon, Today Show, Orlando News Sentinel, blogs, etc.).

We haven’t quantified service/outreach before and it looks like most of our students do something, some of them quite a lot!

It’s great to see our grad students succeeding on so many levels, and sharing their expertise with others.