[bioundgrd] Fwd: Science Research Lecture, March 27, 7pm

[Joyce Roberge]

Greetings from Harvard,

I am pleased to announce that the next speaker in the Science Research Lecture Series will be Scott Edwards, Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, and Curator of Ornithology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Scott will present his work in a talk titled, "Birds: Evolution and Innovation in a Changing World, " on Wednesday, March 27 at 7:00pm in Harvard Science Center Hall C, One Oxford Street, Cambridge. An abstract is appended below.

As a reminder, this program, entitled the Science Research Lecture Series, seeks to introduce the broader local community to the exciting research of our faculty in a manner accessible to lay audiences. These talks will be scheduled throughout the year and open to all who are interested.

Please feel free to share this announcement, and the attached flyer, with any who may be interested in attending.

Abstract:  The ~10,000 species of living birds present a remarkable radiation of ecological roles, sensory abilities and social behaviors, and recent research – from paleontology to genomics - has revealed in extraordinary detail their evolutionary history and descent from feathered dinosaurs.  Yet the latest field surveys from across the United States and beyond suggest that our present-day dinosaurs – modern birds - are in peril, with significant declines in population abundance of many iconic species.  In this talk I will celebrate the remarkable 100 million year history of birds and describe the imprint of ancient innovations, such as feathers and flight, on many aspects of avian biology, right down to their DNA.  I will then describe how diverse environmental challenges, such as climate change, disease, toxic metals and urban noise, test the resilience of birds today.  Evidence for ongoing innovation comes from the sometimes rapid responses of bird populations to these challenges, providing insight into how species are coping with the latest wave of environmental crises.

Kind regards,
Science Lecture Series Team




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