Café Scientifique Gainesville presents …
Evidence for Evolution:
A Tour of Fossil Hall and Panel Discussion
Saturday, September 13
1:30 pm to 4:30pm
Florida Natural History Museum and Harn Art Museum Café
Dr. Bruce MacFadden, Florida Museum Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, and graduate students will lead a tour of the new Fossil Hall at the Florida Natural History Museum from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm.
A panel discussion on Evidence for Evolution will follow next door from 2:30 to 4:30pm in the Harn Art Museum Café (lower level).
Panel members will include Jonathan Bloch, Professor of Geology and Zoology and Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Museum; Kevin Folta, Professor of Horticultural Science; and Joe Meert, Professor of Geological Science.
The panel discussion will start at 3:00pm with brief presentations by the panel members followed by questions and discussion. Refreshments will be served.
Free parking is available on Saturday at the museums, which are located on the University of Florida Cultural Plaza on Hull Road east of SW 34th Street in Gainesville. Driving directions here.
Sponsored by:
Florida Citizens for Science
University of Florida Chapter of the Sigma Xi Research Society
Adult Education Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville
Sounds like a very interesting and informative afternoon.
You’d think Skep and his sheeple would be sure to attend and see for themselves the evolutionary evidence they are always asking/whining about!
Oooooh! Burn!! 😉
OK, somewhat related. My granddaughter is facing a lot of flak from her peers about her “parroting” my/my son’s evolutionist views (not helped because we’ve also raised her atheist). I’m looking for material that will work for a 13 year old (nearly) to describe the current theory of the development of life on this planet. I just mirror rehearsed a bit of a talk and I know I will lose her quickly if I talk about how replication and mutation occurs, abiogenesis theories, cambrian explosion, and the like. I saw on Amazon that Gould’s “Book of Life” might be applicable. Anyone have an opinion?
Two possibilities for shopping around:
From National Center for Science Education, and
Evolution Resources From the National Academies.
PH, Thanks for the suggestions. I’d already poked around NCSE’s materials. I checked out the NAS as you mention. There is that new booklet (my copy of which I loaned to a creationist and haven’t seen since! Probably burned with the Dover mural), but as I recall it didn’t go into the timeline kind of thing I’d like to see. I’m looking for a more general treatise targeted (or with help, can be targeted) for the young adult with scanty science under her belt. Her eyes glaze over when I try to talk to her. That’s why I thought SJG’s book might be one.
Again, thanks for helping me out.
Try this book for your grand daughter- its an illustrated short book – kind of like a comic book book format and appealing to teens:
The Sandwalk Adventures: An Adventure in Evolution Told in Five Chapters
I bought a copy for my classroom and it is a hoot!
Here is an amazon review:
This is a charming graphic novel featuring aged Charles Darwin, his family, and a family of mites living in his eyebrow. One mite can speak to him, and so Darwin learns of the mites’ myth that the Flycatcher(Darwin’s nickname aboard the *Beagle*) is their Creator. Darwin must convince Mara and Willy (the mites) that evolution is real. Along the way we see the world through the mites’ wild-eyed myths as well as the charming home life of the Darwins at Down House in England.
This is a great introduction to evolution as well as a nice gift. Hosler has done other comics as well. In any case, highly recommended.
Definitely teen friendly!
Mary Bahr
We had over 85 people at our event in Gainesville including students from the University and and a middle school teacher and 7 of her students. The panel was excellent and we all had a great time! We plan to do biodiversity next year! The curators have already agreed to help. 😉
Glad this went so well for you! Wish us luck . . . Kansas’ first Science Cafe takes off tomorrow night. *Any* helpful tips are welcome . . . thanks!
Good luck Cheryl and Kansas Science Cafe.
“..talk with your mouth full . . . and win a free Science Café Semolino’s t-shirt!”
Kansas holds a special place in the hearts of all Pastafarians. May the forc…err…I mean…His Noodlyness be with you!
thanks for your good wishes, Noodlicious. Your wishes must have worked – our town of 20K had 61 attend last night’s session. Lively, passionate discussion. Wheee! Looking forward to next month!
Noodles, are you dabbling with another religion? I thought you were faithful to the spaghetti dude? What are you doing with these monkey people?