Renowned primatologist and 2016 Ireland Distinguished Visiting Scholar Dr. Frans B.M. de Waal gave a public lecture entitled, “Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?” on March 31 in the Hill Student Center ballroom. De Waal, who teaches at Emory University and directs the Living Links Center at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, also signed copies of his newest book and visited with faculty, staff and students. A number of outside guests were also in attendance, including curators from the Birmingham Zoo.

UAB polar marine biologist Dr. Charles Amsler was named the recipient of the 2016 Ireland Prize for Scholarly Distinction. Amsler, who works part of the year in Antarctica, studies the chemical ecology of ecosystems, and has a species of algae, Paraglossom amsleri, named for him.

The Ireland prizes are funded by an endowment established by Charles P. and Caroline W. Ireland. Each year, the College names one visiting scholar and one faculty member as recipients of the awards.