Office of Marketing and Communications

The Indiana University Northwest Anthropology Club will host four guest speakers Feb. 12 as part of its ninth annual celebration of Charles Darwin’s birthday, work and scientific legacy. The public is invited to participate in these festivities, which will also include a birthday cake and refreshments. The event runs from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. in Room 105 A and B of the Library Conference Center.

Speakers for the event include: IU Northwest Prof. Spencer Cortwright, Ph.D., of the biology department, who will discuss new theories and evidence about evolution that might have captured Darwin’s interest; IU Northwest Art Historian Adrienne Kochman, Ph.D., who will describe the cyclical nature of art’s relationship to its own past and present; IU Northwest Adjunct Prof. and Adler Planetarium Astronomer Larry Ciupik, who will discuss the ways in which the origin and evolution of the universe can be seen in the night sky; and Rev. Roger Brewin of the First Unitarian Church in Hobart, who will reflect on the importance of reverance for the natural world.

Each presentation will last between 15 and 20 minutes, with a short question-and-answer period to follow. Birthday cake in honor of Darwin, who was born 198 years ago, will be served at 12:45 p.m.

Darwin Day has become a celebrated and thought-provoking event that features stimulating discussions on key scientific and cultural issues of the day. Whatever their views on evolution, members of the Northwest Indiana community are invited to visit IU Northwest and take part in this enjoyable exchange of ideas.

For more information on Darwin Day or the IU Northwest Anthropology Club, contact Associate Prof. Bob Mucci at (219) 980-6607.