Columbus Zoo Presents Lecture on the Life of Charles Darwin
Media Alert: Thursday, October 29, 2009
Powell, OH – The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium continues its lecture series on December 3rd with, Charles Darwin: The Concise Story of an Extraordinary Man, at The Ohio State University’s Fawcett Center.
Celebrate the life of Charles Darwin with professor and Darwin scholar Dr. Tim Berra and recount the fascinating story of the person and the idea that changed how we view the world. His presentation covers Darwin’s revolutionary scientific work – but will dig even more deeply to reveal the great scientist as a husband, father, and friend.
Charles Darwin was a naturalist who collected beetles, studied marine invertebrates, uncovered fossils, conducted animal husbandry research, and discovered new species. He was a botanist and renowned geologist. In addition to his writings about natural selection, he wrote books about geology, plants, and animals -- even earthworms. He took a strong stand against slavery and the ill treatment of the indigenous people he encountered during his travels.
Dr. Tim Berra is Professor Emeritus of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University and a three-time recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship. Over the last 40 years, he has spent over eight years doing fieldwork in Australia. A St. Louis native, Dr. Berra has studied Darwin his entire professional life. He will speak about Darwin’s family, the books he wrote (21), his relatives—parents, grandparents, children. “I’ll show why his life is such an exemplary model for the rest of us as scientists. He was a terrific family man. He had ten children, a devoted wife. He had this wonderful ‘Voyage of The Beagle’ early on—where he traveled around the world for five years. That’s what gave him insight into how species change, particularly on the Galapagos Islands.”
Dr. Berra is the author of over 75 scientific papers and six books including Evolution and the Myth of Creationism, A Natural History of Australia, and his latest book, Charles Darwin: The Concise Story of an Extraordinary Man, which features 60 black and white illustrations and 16 color plates.
Tickets are available for $10 per person and can be purchased on the Columbus Zoo’s website at www.columbuszoo.org or by calling the Zoo at 614-724-3405. The program begins at 7:00 p.m. and includes a reception and book signing.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is open 363 days a year 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. after Labor Day. General admission is $12 for adults, $7 for children ages 2 to 9 and seniors 60+. Children under 2 and Columbus Zoo members are free. The Zoo was named the #1 Zoo in America by USA Travel Guide and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA.) For more information and to purchase advance Zoo admission tickets, visit www.columbuszoo.org