Photo credit: Doug EmlenEvolutionary biologist and acclaimed expert in animal weaponry Doug Emlen, Ph.D., Montana Regents professor of Biology from the University of Montana, will be the keynote lecturer of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Biology’s tenth annual Darwin Day. The event is slated for Monday, Feb. 7 at 12 p.m. and will be held virtually this year. Those interested can opt in to join the event’s web stream here.
Emlen will discuss the science behind extreme weapons seen in the animal world — like teeth, horns and claws — and what they can tell us about the way humans develop and use weapons.
His book “Animal Weapons: The Evolution of Battle” won the Phi Beta Kappa science book of the year award in 2015, and his textbook “Evolution: Making Sense of Life” is presently adopted by more than 250 universities and colleges. His research has been featured in The New York Times, National Public Radio’s Fresh Air and Science Friday, and YouTube’s SciShow, and he recently starred in documentaries about his work on BBC (Nature’s Wildest Weapons) and NOVA (Extreme Animal Weapons).
Darwin Day is an international event held in honor of evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin and celebrates the advancement of science, education and human well-being. Every year, UAB hosts events in support of Darwin’s legacy and the global celebration.