Provided by Palomar College

Internationally-renowned scientist and speaker, Dr. Francisco Ayala is the keynote speaker at the upcoming Palomar College “Exploring Darwin Conference,” Nov. 10 through Nov.12.  This annual event, currently in its third year, draws hundreds of students and community members; the conference emphasizes the multidisciplinary explanatory power of Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection.

Keynote speaker Ayala, a University of California Irvine Professor of Biology and considered one of today’s leading evolutionary biologists and geneticists, will discuss his recent book Darwin’s Gift to Science and Religion, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) in Arts Bldg. Room 240.  Ayala’s background includes a number of distinguished accomplishments, honors and publications, including a National Medal of Science.  In addition, he is a former Dominican priest, allowing him the unique perspective of being both a scientist and a trained “man of religion.”  In addition to Ayala, the Tuesday evening event will include Lisa Karrer’s acclaimed theatrical performance on Darwin, titled Schismism: Natural Law, which includes audience participation.

“We are fortunate to have Dr. Ayala here to discuss his very important perspective on Darwin and religion,” said Dr. Philip de Barros, Palomar College Anthropology Professor and conference organizer.  “This entire conference continues to grow year-to-year, but having Dr. Ayala here gives our students and community a rare opportunity to hear from an internationally key figure in evolutionary biological studies.  We hope that Dr. Ayala and all of our speakers allow people to open their minds to a number of possibilities.”

The three-day conference is designed for students, faculty and staff, but is also open to the public.  After the Tuesday evening Keynote Event at Cal State San Marcos,  Palomar College will host eight speakers at the San Marcos campus, 1140 West Mission Road; visitors will need to procure a parking pass from the Campus Police, Lot 1 (main entrance, on Mission Road).

The following is a list of scheduled speakers and topics by date and time:

Wednesday, Nov. 11 – Governing Board Room, Palomar College

9:30 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.   Russell Jackson, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Cal State San Marcos – Evolved Navigation Theory.

11 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.   Karthik Panchanathan, UCLA Center for Behavior, Evolution, & Culture – Divided We Stand:  Understanding the Evolution of Cooperation.

12:30 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.   Siamak Naficy, UCLA Center for Behavior, Evolution, and Culture –The Convergent Evolution of Mental-State Attributions in Dogs.

2 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.   Philip de Barros, Professor of Anthropology, Palomar College – Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection:  What it IS and What it is NOT.

Thursday, Nov. 12 -- Governing Board Room, Palomar College

9:30 - 10:50 a.m.  Nancy Caine, Professor of Psychology, Cal State San Marcos –  Seeing Red:  Behavioral Consequences of Individual Differences in Color Vision in New World Monkeys.

11 a..m. - 12:20 p.m.  Pascal Gagneux, Assistant Professor, UCSD School of Medicine,   Glycobiology Research and Training Center – Apes, Sugars, and Sperm:  Causes and Consequences of Glycan Evolution.

12:30 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.  Lisa Smolich, Adjunct Professor of Anthropology, Palomar College –A Close Look at Darwin’s Theory of Sexual Selection and Evolutionary Psychology:  How They Shape our Decisions in Mate Choice.

2 p.m - 3:20 p.m.   Jenee Jackson, University of Arizona – Sex-Differentiated Pathways to Early Sexual Debut and Risky Sexual Behavior.

Phillip de Barros, Ph.D., Anthropology Department, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it