From LINNEAN-NEWS:
Darwin’s Legacy: The Fate of the Icons of Evolution
Zoological Society of London
10th February 2009, 6.00pmThe voyage to the Galápagos Islands was crucial to Charles Darwin’s ground-breaking ideas on natural selection, with the discovery that the birds and giant tortoises on the islands had evolved into distinct species.
The voyage of ‘HMS Beagle’ led to the development of the world’s most important ideas on evolution, at a time when the process of extinction was also a new and controversial theory.
During the voyage, Darwin and his fellow crewmen returned a group of former hostages from Tierra del Fuego to their native home at the tip of South America.
Almost two centuries later, we explore the fate of the species and people that inspired Darwin’s ideas. We describe how the modern-day extinction crisis has impacted not only the animal species of the Galápagos but also the indigenous people, who have since become threatened or have disappeared.
Speakers:
Joanne H. Cooper, Bird Group, the Natural History Museum at Tring
Colin McEwan, Head of the Americas Section, The British Museum
H. Glyn Young, Conservation Biologist, Durrell Wildlife Conservation TrustThis meeting is free and open to everyone – no need to book in advance but please arrive early as seating is limited.
The ZSL Meeting Rooms will be open from 5.00pm on the evening, and seats will only be reserved at the talks for those who have booked to come to the dinner.
The evening has been organised by Sam Turvey and Carly Waterman (Institute of Zoology & Conservation Programmes, ZSL); talks will be given by Joanne H. Cooper (the Natural History Museum at Tring), Colin McEwan (The British Museum) and H. Glyn Young (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust); and there will be time for questions following the talks.
