February 19th, Matt Ming

The “Evolution” of Evolution: How the theory of evolution has changed over time

From flying bugs to swimming whales, from microscopic bacteria to giant redwood trees, evolution has shaped every aspect of the living world around us. But what does evolution actually “mean”, and how does it work? The famous work of Darwin and Mendel laid the foundation, and plenty of more modern ideas have contributed to how we think about evolution. In this talk, Matt will describe how our thinking about evolutionary theory has changed, and how scientists are continuing to learn more about this all-important force of nature and protect the state’s remarkable biodiversity as conditions continue to change.

Matt Ming is a 5th year PhD candidate in the Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior program at UT. Matt is broadly interested in population genetics and evolution, and is currently investigating how selection may differ between males and females. Outside of research, he enjoys watching movies, rock climbing, and playing chess.

This month Science Under the Stars is collaborating with the Texas Science Festival! Swag will be provided during the event. For more information on Texas Science Festival visit here.

Lecture Schedule

• 7:00 pm: Kid’s activities and natural history displays
• 7:15 pm – 7:45 pm: Guided tour of the Brackenridge Field Laboratory (sturdy shoes and water recommended!)
• 8:00 pm: The talk begins!
• 8:45 pm: Q&A with the speaker

📍 Location: Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703
💡 No RSVP is required – just show up and enjoy!
🅿️ Free parking is available at BFL for all lecture events!
🌦️ While we aim to host all events outdoors, sometimes weather conditions or volunteer capacity may require that we move the event inside the laboratory building.

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