Renowned Evolutionary Biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant to Deliver Inaugural Biodiversity Day Lecture
Nashville, TN – Vanderbilt University’s Evolutionary Studies Initiative is thrilled to announce that distinguished evolutionary biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant will be delivering the inaugural Biodiversity Day Lecture as part of the ESI seminar series. The Grants are widely recognized for their groundbreaking research on the evolution of Darwin’s finches, which has transformed our understanding of the evolutionary process. The lecture, titled “Biodiversity and the Evolution of Darwin’s Finches,” will take place on October 4th, 2023, at 3:30pm in Buttrick Hall 101. The lecture is open to all members of the Vanderbilt community and the public.
For more than four decades, Peter and Rosemary Grant have dedicated themselves to studying the Galápagos finches, a group of bird species spread across the eponymous island archipelago that played a pivotal role in Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Their research has provided compelling evidence of natural selection in action, highlighting how environmental changes influence the traits and behaviors of these iconic birds. By studying the finches over generations, the Grants showed the rapid pace at which evolutionary changes can occur and contributing to our understanding of speciation.
Their groundbreaking research has been recognized by countless awards, including the Kyoto Prize, the Darwin-Wallace Medal, and the Balzan Prize, and fellowships, including election to the US National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of London.
“We are truly honored to welcome Peter and Rosemary Grant to Vanderbilt University for the inaugural lecture of this prestigious series,” said Dr. Rokas, Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Biological Sciences and Director of the Evolutionary Studies Initiative. “Their research has had a profound impact on the field of evolutionary biology, and their insights into the ’workings of the evolutionary process have shaped our understanding of the generation and maintenance of biodiversity on the planet.”
The Biodiversity Day Lecture Series aims to honor and recognize scientists that have dedicated their careers to studying the diversity of life on Earth and the mechanisms that generate or maintain it. The Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative is a transdisciplinary center of excellence on evolutionary studies that innovates on research, pedagogy, and outreach by engaging scholars, students, our community, and the world. For more information about the Evolutionary Studies Initiative and the Biodiversity Day Lecture featuring Peter and Rosemary Grant, please visit www.vanderbilt.edu/evolution or contact evolutionarystudies@vanderbilt.edu.