University of Massachusetts at Amherst Distinguished Professor Lynn Margulis, one of the most renowned biologists in the world, will give a public lecture at the University of Colorado at Boulder on March 15.
Her talk, titled "Gaia and Microcosm: Living Earth From Space," deals with the Gaia theory, which she co-developed with British scientist James Lovelock. The theory is based on the premise that the physical and chemical properties of Earth聮s atmosphere are actively regulated by the metabolism, growth and evolution of organisms.
The free lecture will be held at the University Memorial Center Ballroom at 7:30 p.m., followed by a public reception in the Glenn Miller Lounge. The lecture and reception are co-sponsored by CU-Boulder聮s Baker Residential Academic Program and Sewall Residential Academic Program.
The UMC is located at Broadway and Euclid Avenue. Paid parking is available at the Euclid Avenue Autopark, located just east of the UMC.
Margulis, one of the world聮s experts in cell biology, will receive the National Medal of Science from President Bill Clinton in a special White House ceremony the day before her CU-Boulder talk. She is being honored in Washington, D.C., for "outstanding contributions to the understanding of the structure and evolution of living cells, and for extraordinary abilities as a teacher and communicator of science to the public."
A member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences and American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Margulis also is one of only three U.S. researchers elected to the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Margulis is best known for her innovative research on the evolution of eukariotic cells -- those containing a nucleus. Her work has significantly advanced the understanding of how cells have evolved through research on the merging of separate, free-living organisms that work together in symbiosis, eventually evolving into single, integrated cells.
She also has authored several widely acclaimed books, including "Microcosmos: Four Billion Years of Evolution from our Microbial Ancestors," as well as "What is Life," and "Essays on Gaia, Symbiosis and Evolution," which was co-authored with her son, science writer Dorian Saga. In addition, she co-authored "Five Kingdoms: An Illustrated Guide to the Phyla of Life on Earth" with Kathleen Schwartz.
The Baker and Sewall Residential Academic Programs provide students with a unique educational experience, combining courses and lectures from faculty and visiting scholars with the social experience of living in the residential halls.
"We are excited about the visit by Professor Margulis, especially with it falling on the day after her being honored at the White House," said biology Professor Russell Monson, director of academic programs at Baker Hall. "In her career, she has demonstrated profound courage, particularly in the face of criticism regarding some of her earliest theories. These theories are now well entrenched scientifically, and she is recognized as among the best American scientists."
Margulis received her doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley and has been teaching at the University of Massachusetts since 1988.