RSS 1.0Darwin Fest 2025
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Revisiting Darwin's Insectivorous Plants: Modern Insights Into Carnivorous Plant EvolutionCharles Darwin is widely known for On The Origin Of Species, but his curiosity extended far beyond animals; he was also a passionate botanist with a fascination for carnivorous plants. His 1875 work, Insectivorous Plants, investigated how carnivorous plants have adapted to trap and digest prey. This lecture will revisit Darwin's early contributions to our understanding of carnivorous plant evolution and explore how recent advances in evolutionary biology have expanded his work.
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Searching For Shade: Adapting To Extreme Heat In The Northeast USAIn early 2024, the world passed the 1.5C warming threshold for the first time. In the northeast of the U.S., extreme heat events are becoming more frequent while aging infrastructure is not designed for a warmer climate. Cities across the northeast have responded by planting millions of trees to increase resilience and adaptability. In this talk, Professor Geron will evaluate different types of tree planting.
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The Intersection Of Homologous Recombination And Heterochromatic Maintenance In Saccharomyces CerevisiaeMating-type switching in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a fascinating process that enables haploid yeast cells to switch mating types, facilitating diploid formation and enhancing genetic diversity within populations. This process is intiated by a DNA double-strand break and is dependent upon homologous recombination at a heterochromatic donor template to repair the break. This talk will delve into how these two processess are coordinated and influence genome stability and gene regulation.
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How Do Hurricanes And Wildfires Influence Earth's Carbon And Water Cycles?Hurricanes and wildfires are notorious environmental disturbances that greatly influence local hydrological, biological, geological, and chemical mechanisms, commonly known as hydro-biogeochemical processes. Under steady-state conditions, the interconnected relationship between hydro-biogeochemical processes is routinely recognized. In this presentation, we will discuss the invisible influence hurricanes/wildfires have on hydro-biogeochemical processes governing the carbon and water cycle.
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Evolution At The Cosmic ScaleWhy do we find ourselves in a Universe that is hospitable for life? How has order emerged in a Universe that -- according to the laws of physics -- should be becoming more disordered? To address these questions, modern cosmologists have been taking inspiration from Darwinian evolution. Can we extend the principles of evolution beyond the biosphere to understand the evoltuion of the universe as a whole? This talk wil describe two approaches to the study of cosmi evolution and assess their potential to answer some of our biggest questions.
