Evolution 2011, an international conference of scientists and students will be held between June 17 and 21 at the John Q. Hammonds Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Norman, Oklahoma. This is the annual joint meetings of the Society for the Study of Evolution, Society of Systematic Biologists, and the American Society of Naturalists and is the premier conference of evolutionary biologists on the planet. Talks and plenary sessions present cutting-edge research on topics ranging from molecular evolution to behavioral ecology, comparative genomics to computational analysis of biological data. Evolution conferences have been held in recent years in: Stony Brook, New York; Christchurch, New Zealand; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Portland, Oregon. The conference consists of a lecture open to the public on Saturday (noon till 1 pm) (the Stephen J. Gould Award Lecture) followed by symposia presentations, concurrent contributed papers, poster sessions, and service provider exhibits over a four-day period. With an estimated attendance of 1400 to 1500 attendees, could be the largest scientific conference ever held in the state of Oklahoma.
EVOLUTION 101: A K-12 teacher workshop is offered to regional teachers on Friday, June 17th . Science educators from across the state of Oklahoma are invited to join evolutionary biologists and other science educators for “Evolution 101” – a one day workshop to be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Norman, Oklahoma on June 17. Come learn about recent research in the field of evolution, talk with evolutionary biologists, and attend sessions that feature hands-on activities for teaching evolution to all ages.
Here is the schedule for the workshop:
EVO 101: Evolution and Medicine
Friday June 17th 8 am – 5 pm
8-8:30 am – Registration, coffee and bagels.
8:30 am – Brief Introduction to SSE EVO 101 – Dr. Tom Meagher, Chair of SSE Education Committee
8:45 am – Brief overview of EVO 101 – Dr. Kristin Jenkins, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center
9:00 am – Science Talk: Dr. Cecil Lewis, Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma.
9:45 am – Break
10:00 am – Hands-on Activities
For K-7 Educators: Human Skin Color Variation: Exploring hypotheses. (Louise Mead)
For 7-14 Educators: Evolution and Medicine. Lessons from NIH/BSCS with Paul Beardsley
11:30 am – Lunch and conversations with scientists.
1:00 pm – Teaching Evolution in Elementary Schools – Linda Lacy, Science Coordinator, North Kansas City Schools
1:30 pm – Panel Discussion on Teaching Evolution with Linda Lacy, North Kansas City Schools; Dr. Vic Hutchison, University of Oklahoma; Dr. Paul Beardsley, BSCS; Dr. Louise Mead, National Center for Science Education; Brad Williamson, University of Kansas, AND OTHERS?
2:00 pm – Hands on Activities
For K-7 Educators: Evolution Readiness presentation and hands-on computer activity by Concord Consortium.
For 7-14 Educators: Our Common Ancestors: Primate Skull Lab OR have Brad present something.
3:30 pm – Break
3:45 pm – Science Talk: speaker TBA
4:30 pm – Raffle and Closing
Evening – Dinner (on your own).
7-9 pm – Opening Reception. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
Saturday June 18, 2011
Noon – 1:30 pm – S.J. Gould Award Lecture
GOULD AWARD LECTURE: The winner of the 2011 Stephen Jay Gould Prize has not yet been named but will be an individual that has a distinguished career both advancing the science of evolution and in conveying that knowledge to the general public. The previous two recipients are Eugenie Scott and Sean Carroll. The Gould Award lecture will take place at 12:00 PM (noon) Saturday, June 18, in the Embassy Suites Convention Center in Norman, is free, and open to the public.
Further information can be found at the meeting website, which will be updated as more information becomes available. Questions can be directed to this email address: evolution2011@ou.edu