BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SERIES
An Introduction to Darwin and Evolutionary Biology
Professor Scott McRobert

This course will be held at the Wynnefield Branch of the Free Library, located at 5325 Overbrook Avenue, Philadelphia.

LECTURES WILL BE HELD FROM 6:15 to 7:30 PM

1. Monday, September 22, 2008 - Course Overview
   Thoughts on the diversity of life.
2. Monday, September 29, 2008 - The History of Evolutionary Thought I
   Pre-Darwin.
3. Monday, October 6, 2008 - The History of Evolutionary Thought II
   Darwin's voyage and the Theory of Natural Selection.
4. Monday, October 13, 2008 - NO CLASS - Columbus Day
5. Monday, October 20, 2008 - Neo-Darwinism or The New Synthesis
   The science of evolution, after Darwin.
6. Monday, October 27, 2008
   Selection and Specification.
7. Monday, November 3, 2008
   Visit to a Biodiversity Laboratory at Saint Joseph's University.
8. Monday, November 10, 2008
   The Loss of Biodiversity.
9. Monday, November 17, 2008
   Conclusions.

This course will provide and overview of the history and science of evolutionary biology. Topics will include: The Diversity of Life; Evolutionary Thought Prior to Darwin; The Voyage of the Beagle; Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection; Evolutionary Thought after Darwin; Selection; Speciation; and the Loss of Biodiversity. The course will also include a trip to a Biodiversity Research Laboratory.

Suggested reading:

The Beak of the Finch by Jonathan Weiner. Vintage: New York, 1995.

The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin. Penguin Classics: New York, 1989. (or any other edition)

The Diversity of Life by E.O. Wilson. Penguin Books: London, 2001.

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