UNCW Darwin Scholar Announcement: Richard Leakey

Through the not-to-be-deterred persistence of Alina Szmant and the support of Shannon Hooker/Arts in Action for the Evolution Learning Community, UNCW will also be hosting in 2008-2009:

Richard Leakey, “Why Our Origins Matter”
Date: Monday, October 13 at 7 PM (Kenan Auditorium)
World renowned paleoanthropologist Dr. Richard Leakey has made international headlines for more than 30 years for his work in Kenya. Former director of the National Museums of Kenya, Leakey is known for his work in early human origins, particularly his expeditions to the shores of Lake Turkana in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. One of the most controversial, influential, and inspirational figures in African politics and world conservation today, he has authored or co-authored over 100 scientific articles and books, including The Origin of Humankind, Origins Reconsidered, and The Sixth Extinction. This event is co-sponsored by Honors Scholars Program & Evolution Learning Community.

"Reverse Evolution" Discovered in Seattle Fish

From National Geographic News -- When a historic cleanup helped clear the waters of a polluted lake near Seattle, a population of tiny, spiny fish called sticklebacks may have "evolved in reverse" to survive. In the 1950s, Lake Washington, an inland lake that parallels Washington State's Pacific Coast, took on 20 million gallons of phosphorous-laden sewage a day. By the 1960s it had become a 300,000-acre cesspool. Then an unprecedented U.S.-$140-million cleanup in the mid-1960s transformed the lake into the pristine boaters' paradise that it is today. But the lake's recovery put at least one species in a pickle: the three- spine stickleback. The small fish, formerly hidden in the murky depths, found itself swimming in plain view of predators like cutthroat trout. Researchers now think the threat of predators spurred the fish into rapid evolution toward an older version of itself, evolutionarily speaking. To read more: http://snipurl.com/29xsy

Source: "Science in the News," Sigma Xi <http://sitn.sigmaxi.org/> Accessed: May 22, 2008.

Ecotone: Evolution Contest (Accepting Manuscripts)

Ecotone, UNCW's literary journal devoted to writing about place, is excited to announce our Evolution Contest.

In January, Ecotone will publish a special issue celebrating the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of The Origin of Species. For this remarkable double issue, we are seeking excellent writing that deals creatively with the topic of evolution--from the scientific to the literary.

We are now accepting submissions in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for the Ecotone Evolution Contest, which creatively reflects the subject. Again, we are looking not just for traditional literary writing on this topic, but also thoughtful scientific writing that deals with evolution in a creative way.

The reading period is open until August 1, 2008. One Grand Prize winner will receive a $1,000 honorarium, a limited-edition chapbook of the winning manuscript, and publication in Ecotone's Spring 2009 Evolution issue. Two runners-up will receive chapbooks of their manuscripts and publication in Ecotone. The contest entry fee is $15 per manuscript.

For more information, please visit http://www.ecotonejournal.com/evolution.html.