Four of the University of Colorado at Boulder's most distinguished professors in teaching and scholarship will give free public lectures on the frontiers of science ranging from astrophysics to anthropology during April.
The campus talks are part of a new program featuring lectures by President's Teaching Scholars from CU-Boulder. Hosted by CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard L. Byyny and the Office of Community Relations, the Spring series is titled "Quests for Origins, Evolution and Immortality."
The presentations will focus on scientific quests for understanding that range from the origin of the universe to the search for human origins and immortality. The lectures will begin on Wednesday, April 7, at 7 p.m. and continue every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. through April 28 at Fiske Planetarium, located on Regent Drive.
Participating President聮s Teaching Scholars include Professor Michael Shull of astrophysical and planetary sciences, Professor David Prescott of molecular, cellular and developmental biology, Professor Michael Grant of environmental, population and organismic biology and Professor Dennis Van Gerven of anthropology.
The President's Teaching Scholars Program was established in 1989 to honor and reward a select number of faculty members from the four CU campuses for exemplary teaching and scholarship.
People wishing to attend the events are asked to register in advance for the full series of talks by calling 303-492-4153. Following is a schedule and summary of each lecture:
* April 7 -- Professor Shull's lecture, "The Origin of the Universe," will address modern theories on the "Big Bang" concept and the later evolution of the expanding universe. Using planetarium projection equipment to illustrate his talk, Shull will theorize how the birth of the universe set the stage for the origins of galaxies, stars, planets and life.
* April 14 -- Professor Prescott's lecture, "The Quest for Immortality," will focus on the ambitions of humans to live longer, healthier lives. He will talk about how changes in diet can double the life span of some animal species and address the potential for similar age increases in humans using dietary practices that have been shown to slow the aging process.
* April 21 -- Professor Grant's lecture, "The Evolution of Deception," will challenge the common assumption that active deception is a uniquely human trait. He will use examples of deception in the animal kingdom involving fireflies, lemurs, sunfish, kittens, bluebirds and mice.
* April 28 -- Professor Van Gerven's lecture, "The Quest for Human Origins," will focus on his studies of the health and well being of an ancient Nubian society dating back 1,500 years. Van Gerven has intensively studied the remains of several hundred Nubian mummies to find out what their remains can tell contemporary archaeologists about their lives.
For more information, call CU-Boulder's Office of Community Relations at 303-492-6432.