The NDSU Departments of Biological Sciences and Geosciences are set to host “Darwin Days,” Feb. 9-10. Darwin Day is a worldwide celebration to commemorate the contributions of naturalist Charles Darwin. Science-related activities are often scheduled on or about Feb. 12 – Darwin was born on that date in 1809.

“Our last ‘Darwin Days’ event was in February 2020, right before the pandemic changed everything. This is our first year back with the event,” said Julia Bowsher, NDSU associate professor of biological sciences. “The main goal is to showcase how the process of evolution has shaped biodiversity on geological times scales as well as in our present day.”

The schedule of activities at NDSU includes:

Thursday, Feb. 9

Evolution Pop-Up Museum
2 p.m.- 5 p.m.
A. Glenn Hill Center Atrium

Friday, Feb. 10

Evolution Pop-Up Museum
10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
A. Glenn Hill Center Atrium

Celebrate Darwin’s birthday with cake
3:30 p.m.- 4 p.m.
A. Glenn Hill Center Atrium

Keynote Address
“Mother’s Milk: Debunking Myths, Exploring Evolution and Updating Medicine” by Katie Hinde, associate professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University.
4 p.m.- 5 p.m.
A. Glenn Hill Center, room 112

“We are very excited to have our keynote speaker, Dr. Hinde, talk about the evolution of lactation in mammals, including implications for human health and well-being,” said Bowsher, noting Hinde also is director of ASU’s Comparative Lactation Lab.

Hinde earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington and her doctorate in anthropology at the University of California-Los Angeles. She was a postdoctoral scholar at the Brain, Mind and Behavior Unit at the California National Primate Research Center at the University of California-Davis.