EIU Media Relations

EIU to host “Darwin Day 2019”; On-campus events, special guests scheduled for February 10-12

[Kaitlyn Will contributed to this article]

(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University will once again host its annual Darwin Day events in February.

The Darwin Day Program is an annual and internationally celebrated event occurring around Charles Darwin’s birthday (February 12) and taking place in hundreds of churches, museums, educational institutions and science research institutions.  The event is a celebration of Charles Darwin’s contributions to our understanding of the most fundamental and profound aspects of humanity’s history on Earth.

This year, the theme of EIU’s 15^th Annual Darwin Day Program is “The DNA Tale of Where We Came From and Who We Are.” Through a feature film, panel discussion, and two stimulating lectures, participants will learn how DNA is used to track human ancestry and the scope of limitations of popular DNA kits for examining their own past.

All events will take place at 7 p.m. in the Lecture Hall of EIU’s Doudna Fine Arts Center, and include:

• Sunday, February 10
  Film and Panel Discussion: “The DNA Tale of Where We Came From and Who We Are”
• Monday, February 11
  “Paleogenomics, Community Engagement and the Evolutionary Histories of Indigenous Peoples of North America” presented by Dr. Ripan Malhi, Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign
• Tuesday, February 12
  “Ten Thousand Years of Evolution; What Ancient DNA Has Taught Us About Ancestry and Natural Selection in Europe” presented by Dr. Iain Mathieson, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

All events are free and open to the public.

For more information about EIU, or to learn more about its growing assortment of programs and services, visit the university’s website at www.eiu.edu, or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.