Darwin at Town Square
In cooperation with the Franklin Institute’s exhibit on Darwin, The Academy of Natural Sciences presents a series of Town Square events examining the impact of Charles Darwin and his work on science and society.
Information on the speakers for the Darwin Series and some web resources are presented below.
Speakers
- Dr. Janet Browne (1/24/07): Angel or Ape: Darwin's Impact)
- Dr. Browne is the Aramont Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University and one of the world’s foremost experts on the life and work of Charles Darwin. She's the author of the seminal biography Charles Darwin: Voyaging (Vol.1) and Charles Darwin: The Power of Place (Vol. 2).
- Dr. Ted Daeschler (10/3/06: 150 Years of Dinosaurs in Philadelphia)
- Dr. Daeschler is the Assistant Curator of vertetebrate paleontology at the Academy. His research focuses on collecting and describing Late Devonian fossil vertebrates from Pennsylvania and the Canadian Arctic, including numerous lobe-fin fishes and early tetrapods. He is the co-discoverer of Tiktaalic.
- Dr. Peter Dodson (10/3/06: 150 Years of Dinosaurs in Philadelphia; 11/14/06: Darwin, Science & Religion)
- Dr. Dodson is Professor of Anatomy and Geology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of numerous scientific papers on dinosaurs and author or editor of several books, including The Dinosauria and The Horned Dinosaurs - A Natural History.
- Rev. Warren M. Eshbach (12/4/06: Evolution in the Classroom)
- Rev. Warren M. Eshbach, D.Min. A critic of recent attempts to include intelligent design in the science curriculm of of the Dover (PA) Area School District, Rev. Eshbach is a charter member of Dover CARES, a citizens’ group monitoring educational strategies in the community. Candidates support by Dover CARES last year won a majority of seats on the Dover School Board.
- A native of Pottstown, PA, Dr. Eshbach received degrees from Gettysburg College (B.S.), Lutheran Theological Seminary Gettysburg (M. Div.) and McCormick Theological Seminary (D. Min.). He is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren and has served the church in a variety of roles, most recently, as Dean of the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center. Now retired from active service, he is currently an adjunct faculty member at Lutheran Theological Seminary Gettysburg, teaching in the area of congregational studies.
- Dr. William Grassie (11/14/06: Darwin, Science & Religion)
- Dr. Grassie is founder of the Metanexus Institute and the executive editor of the Institute's online magazine and discussion forum.
- Dr. Kenneth Lacovara (10/3/06: 150 Years of Dinosaurs in Philadelphia)
- Dr. Lacovara is the Director of the Geology Program at Drexel University and the principle investigator for several paleontological expeditions to Patagonia.
- Jason Poole (10/3/06: 150 Years of Dinosaurs in Philadelphia)
- Mr. Poole is the Coordinator of the Fossil Prep Laboratory at The Academy of Natural Sciences and has partnered with Dr. Lacovara and Dr. Josh Smith (George Washington University, St. Louis) for paleontological expeditions to Patagonia and Egypt, respectively.
- Dr. Colin Purrington (11/14/06: Darwin, Science & Religion)
- Dr. Purrington teaches evolutionary biology at Swarthmore College with research interest in parasitic plants. He is an activist for teaching evolution in schools and publisher of Education Outreach Projects.
- Dr. Eugenie Scott (Dec. 4, 2006: Evolution in the Classroom)
- Dr. Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education, is one of the nation’s foremost advocates of the teaching of evolutionary biology in American schools. The author of Creationism vs. Evolution: An Introduction., Dr. Scott offers a science-based perspective on the importance of including evolutionary theory in a modern educational system.
- Dr. Scott holds a Ph.D. in biological anthropology from the University of Missouri. She has taught at the University of Kentucky and at the University of Colorado. A human biologist, her research has been in medical anthropology and skeletal biology. She has received numerous awards and honorary degrees, and is frequently quoted in the national media.
- Dr. Keith Thomson (10/3/06: 150 Years of Dinosaurs in Philadelphia)
- Dr. Thomson is a former president and current research associate of The Academy. He is the author of numerous scientific articles and several books, including Living Fossil and HMS Beagle: The Ship That Changed the Course of History.
Web Resources
- AboutDarwin.com: Dedicated to the life and times of Charles Darwin
- www.aboutdarwin.com/index.html
- Janet Brown's website at Harvard University
- www.fas.harvard.edu/~hsdept/bios/browne.html
- The Complete Works of Charles Darwin On-Line
- darwin-online.org.uk/
- Evolution Outreach Project: resources for teaching evolution
- www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/cpurrin1/evolk12/evoops.htm
- Metanexus Institute (cosponsor of the Darwin series)
- home page: www.metanexus.net
- webpage on evoution and religion: www.metanexus.net/metanexus_online/topoi/topoi_home.asp?19
- The National Academy of Sciences Science and Creationism Page
- www.nationalacademies.org/evolution/
- The National Center for Science Education
- Home Page: www.ncseweb.org/
- Staff, including biography of Dr. Scott. www.ncseweb.org/ourstaff.asp