Academy Town Square: How the Urban Jungle Drives Evolution

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

5:30 PM-8:30 PM

Evolutionary biologist Menno Schilthuizen is among a growing number of urban ecologists studying how manmade environments are affecting the evolution of animals and plants. Example: some urban blackbirds sing at a higher pitch than their rural cousins to be heard over the din of traffic.

In this free Academy Town Square, WHYY’s The Pulse Host Maiken Scott engages the author in a fascinating conversation based on his new book Darwin Comes to Town: How the Urban Jungle Drives Evolution.

Cash bar opens at 5:30 p.m. and the informal discussion with The Pulse Host Maiken Scott begins at 6:30 p.m.

Academy entomologist Isa Betancourt will join the conversation in the second half to fills us in on what’s happening in Philly based on her Logan Square Fountain insect survey. Following the fun and enlightening exchange, Schilthuizen will sign copies of his book.

The event is free but registration is required. To register, please click here.

Schilthuizen (MEN-no SKILT-how-sen) is a senior research scientist at Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands and a professor of evolutionary biology at Leiden University. In his new book, Darwin Comes to Town, he describes how flexible and swift-moving natural selection can be. With human populations growing, people are having an increasing impact on global ecosystems, and nowhere do these impacts overlap as much as they do in cities, Schilthuizen has found.

The Academy Town Square series is designed to engage and provide relevant educational content to the public on environmental issues. The series is made possible by Warren Environmental Counsel.

The Pulse tells stories at the heart of health, science and innovation. Go on an adventure into unexpected corners of the health and science world each week with award-winning host Maiken Scott. New episodes of The Pulse are available every week on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.