Guns, Germs and Steel Author To Speak at Alma
The 200th birthday of Charles Darwin in 2009 will be marked at Alma College by the appearance of one of the world’s most well known science celebrities.
Jared Diamond, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies and world renowned for his work in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology, will be the keynote speaker for the 2009 Robert D. Swanson Responsible Leadership Speaker Series.
Diamond’s talk on Oct. 14, 2009 in the Remick Heritage Center coincides with Darwin’s 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of Darwin’s 1859 book On the Origin of Species, which promoted evolution as the dominant scientific explanation of the diversity of life.
“Dr. Diamond is one of America’s most celebrated scholars,” says President Saundra Tracy. “His talks routinely draw large numbers of listeners who gain a deeper understanding of the development of human civilization. He remains a popular speaker because of his ability to easily explain major patterns in human history.”
The Darwin anniversaries provide an historical context for Diamond’s presentation at Alma College, says Jamie Smith, the faculty member who is coordinating visit to campus.
“We are extremely fortunate and excited about hosting this internationally prominent scientist and scholar,” says Smith.
Diamond is known for his ground-breaking studies of the birds of Papua New Guinea. His field experiences include 17 expeditions to New Guinea and neighboring islands to study ecology and evolution of birds. He also has been involved in numerous other field projects in North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Currently a professor of geography at UCLA, Diamond also is the author of other best-selling books, including The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal, Why Is Sex Fun? The Evolution of Human Sexuality and, most recently, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed.
He has received some of the world’s most prestigious awards, including a MacArthur Foundation genius grant and the National Medal of Science, America’s highest civilian award in science.
The Swanson Responsible Leadership Speaker Series at Alma College brings prominent leaders to campus for discussions on related topics. Past speakers include former President of Mexico Vicente Fox in 2008, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in 2007 and former presidential candidates and U.S. Senators Robert Dole and George McGovern in 2006.
The speaker series is part of the Alma College Center for Responsible Leadership, which encompasses a large network of leadership-development opportunities for all Alma students, regardless of academic major or degree.
