Living World Lecture
Friday, March 15, 2002
Earth and Space Sciences Lecture Theater, Room 001 Earth and Space Sciences Building

Even though evolution has been considered a fact by most biologists for over a century, it is considered controversial by a large fraction of the American public. Partly on this account, the subject is often neglected or avoided in educational curricula. However, evolution is as thoroughly supported as any principle in science. Moreover, it is an essential framework for understanding almost all of biology, and plays increasingly important roles in health sciences, food production, pest management, and many other applications. I will describe some of the support for evolution, illustrate its importance in human affairs, and argue that a scientifically literate society must understand the principles and applications of evolution.

Short Biography

Douglas Futuyma is Distingushed Professor of Ecology and Evolution at the State University of New York. He is well known for his work on evolutionary biology, especially for his research on the evolution of plant-eating insects and their evolution of specialization on plant hosts. He has lectured widely around the world and was a crucial educator in tropical ecology and evolution at the Organization for Tropical Studies in Costa Rica. Futuyma has been President of the Society of the Study of Evolution and editor of his field's premier journal, and is a Fulbright Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow, and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.