Charles Darwin and his famous work, On the Origin of Species, have been the subject of tributes and accolades from all around the world -- including a lecture series at the UO that has drawn crowds numbering in the hundreds.
The occasion has been the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of Origin.
"Few scientists have had a larger impact on modern thinking than Charles Darwin," said biology professor Patrick Phillips, a member of the UO's Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. "People have been trying to explain the amazing diversity of life on earth for centuries, but the root of all of our modern ideas on the topic really trace back to Darwin."
Phillips gave the first lecture in the "150 Years Since Origin" campus lecture series, which began in January. His talk, entitled "Darwin's Puzzles: The Evolution of Sex and Death," explored historical and modern viewpoints on sexual selection, sexual conflict and the genetics of aging and longevity. The lecture drew an overflow crowd of more than 550 from both the UO campus and the wider Eugene community.
The second lecture, presented by psychology professor Warren Holmes, focused on "The Evolution of Cooperation and the Paradox of Altruism." Holmes, who teaches courses in evolutionary psychology and animal behavior, drew on examples such as ground squirrels and honeybees to explore the tension between the centerpiece of Darwin's theory of natural selection -- the assertion that genetic selfishness will prevail -- and the occurrence of acts of altruism and unselfishness in the natural world.
"Darwin was well aware of the paradox that cooperative behavior posed for his theory of natural selection," said Holmes, whose talk drew an audience of more than 400. The lecture series, which runs through May, is sponsored by the Oregon Humanities Center, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Museum of Natural and Cultural History and a number of research centers and institutes in the life sciences.
Watch videos of the UO Darwin lectures and read an essay about Darwin's far-reaching impact on the sciences.
Not Your Average Reading Group
On the Origin of Species will be the topic of a UO reading group this spring, which will bring together faculty and students from not only biology, but also other disciplines such as philosophy and English. They will read Darwin's original work and also have the opportunity to learn from faculty experts, who will share historical perspectives on Darwin's scientific predecessors and the factors that led to the development of evolutionary ideas.
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