First Fridays January 9, 2009

“Darwin's Evolution” with Lyanda Lynn Haupt

Using little-known letters, diaries, and notebooks, writer Lyanda Lynn Haupt explores Darwin's own evolution – from his beginning as a fumbling neophyte student of the natural world to his emergence as an original, creative naturalist who could draw complex scientific truths from the observation of life around him.

About Lyanda Lynn Haupt

In her creative nonfiction, Lyanda Lynn Haupt explores the various dimensions of human knowing – intellectual, philosophical, scientific, experiential, spiritual, poetic – and considers them as complements rather than competitors in deepening the human relationship with the natural world. She is the author of Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds, Pilgrim on the Great Bird Continent and the forthcoming Crow Planet. Her articles and reviews have appeared in a variety of anthologies and publications. Haupt's master's degree is in philosophy of science and environmental ethics, and she has worked extensively as a naturalist and field ornithologist. She lives in Seattle with her husband and young daughter.

Tour of the Ornithology Collections with Kimball Garrett

NHM Ornithology Collections Manager Kimball Garrett takes guests on a tour of intriguing, variable bird groups that Darwin would have observed, and talk about how the Museum's collections – even those that are very old – are used in modern day research.

Music

January features the indie pop of the The Little Ones and the post-classic rock of the Canadian band Plants and Animals, who's latest album garnered them a 2009 Juno Award.

Curated by the non-profit radio collective dublab,  The Phatal DJ and DJ Kutmah will perform in the African Mammal Hall.

Series Overview

Darwin's Origin of Species: From a Theory of Evolution to a Cultural Revolution

This year Charles Darwin turns 200 and his world-altering On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection turns 150. Often considered one of the two or three most important – and misunderstood – texts published in the sciences, The Origin of Species is also one of a handful of scientific works that has reverberated beyond science, shaking the foundations of art, literature, philosophy, religion and society. This season's First Fridays celebrate “Darwin Year” through entertaining and fascinating conversations with six of the world's foremost authors and experts on the life of Darwin, the science of evolution, and the revolutionary impact of the man and his work.