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WATCH the symposium HERE!

Marking the 151st Anniversary of the Publication of Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species”

 

Darwin and the Debate over Human Origins

 

Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, 7:30 p.m.

The Broad Auditorium 
(Corner of Ames & Main Streets, Cambridge, MA)

 

Apes in Our Family Tree

Prof. Janet Browne

Department of the History of Science 

Harvard University


Evidence for Gene Flow from 

Neanderthals into Modern Humans

Prof. David Reich

Department of Genetics
Harvard Medical School

Inherited Disease and Human Evolution

Prof. David Housman

MIT Center for Cancer Research


The Continuing Controversy over Teaching Evolution

Prof. John Durant

Director, MIT Museum

Free and open to the MIT community and the general public

MIT Darwin Bicentennial Symposium
Jan 22-24 2009


Thursday: The Evolving Earth
The Broad Auditorium
(Corner of Ames & Main Streets, Cambridge, MA)

Thursday afternoon: Chair: Prof. Maria Zuber (MIT EAPS)
  • 1:00 pm. Introduction Prof. Maria Zuber (MIT Earth, Atmosphere & Planetary Sciences)
  • 1:30 pm. Origin of the Solar System and Early Earth Prof. Lindy Elkins-Tanton (MIT EAPS)
  • 2:30 pm. Evolution of the Oceans and the Early Atmosphere of the Earth Prof. Shuhei Ono (MIT EAPS)
  • 3:30 pm. Evolution of photosynthesis Prof. Tanja Bosak (MIT EAPS)
Thursday Evening:
  • 7:00 pm. Introduction:Life Alters the Earth Prof. Dianne Newman (MIT Dept. of Biology)
  • 7:30 pm. History and Future of Earth's Climate Prof. Kerry Emanuel (MIT EAPS)

Friday: Evolutionary Mechanisms in Vertebrates
The Broad Auditorium

Friday morning:
  • 9:00 am. Coffee.
  • 9:30 am. Darwin, Wallace and the Origin of Species Prof. John Durant (MIT Museum and Science, Technology & Society Program)
  • 10:00 am. Evolution and Development of the Vertebrate Brain Prof. Hazel Sive (MIT Dept of Biology)
  • 10:45 am. Novel Mechanisms of Evolutionary Change Prof. Susan Lindquist (Whitehead Institute)
  • 11:30 am. Evolution of the Vertebrate Eye Prof. Russell Fernald (Stanford University Neuroscience Program)
Friday afternoon:
  • 2:00 pm. Natural Selection in Humans and Pathogens Prof. Pardis Sabeti (Broad Institute and Harvard University)
  • 3:00 pm. Fish Fins to Tetrapod Limbs: The Landmark Evolutionary Transition in the Origin of Terrestrial Vertebrates Prof. Farish Jenkins, Jr. (Harvard, Dept. of Biology)
  • 4:00 pm. New insights into the diversification of beak morphology in Darwin's Finches and regressive evolution in cave fish Prof. Cliff Tabin (Harvard Medical School, Dept of Genetics)

Saturday: Darwin in Society
The MIT Museum
(265 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA)


Saturday morning:
  • 9:00 am. Coffee.
Darwin, His Life and Times
  • 9:30 am. The Emergence of Darwin’s Evolutionary Theory Prof. Harriet Ritvo (MIT History Faculty)
  • 10:00 am. Darwin and the Naturalization of Human Culture Prof. Jim Paradis (MIT Writing Program)
Evolution in Action
  • 11:00 am. The Evolution of Cell Division Prof. Iain Cheeseman (MIT/Whitehead Institute)
  • 11:30 am. The Battle Between Pathogens and the Immune System Prof. Hidde Ploegh (MIT/Whitehead Institute)



Saturday afternoon

Societal impacts and issues
  • 1:30 pm. Local Resources for Biology Teachers Dr. Natalie Kuldell (MIT Bioengineering Dept.), Prof. Rebeca Rosengaus (Northeastern University Dept. of Biology), Dr. Connie Chow (Science Club for Girls)
  • 2:00 pm. Darwin, Abolition, and Struggles for Social Equality Prof. Jonathan King (MIT Dept. of Biology)
  • 2:30 pm. Current Controversies over the Teaching of Evolution John Durant (MIT Museum and Science, Technology & Society Program)


Program Committee
  • John Durant, David Housman, Jonathan King (Chair), Susan Lindquist, Ishara Mills-Henry, Harriet Ritvo, James Paradis, Hazel Sive, Maria Zuber.
Staff
  • Cindy Woolley; Emiko Bare; Greg Pintilie
Sponsors:
  • MIT Dept. of Biology; MIT Museum; MIT School of Humanities; MIT School of Science; Cambridge Forum on Science Education; Massachusetts Darwin Bicentennial Project; New England Biolabs; Whitehead Institute; Broad Institute.