The Nature of Things Lecture Series
Each year, the Utah Museum of Natural History presents a lecture series that explores various aspects of the place of humans within the natural world.
Past Keynote Lectures have been delievered by E.O. Wilson, Michael Pollan, and Thomas Friedman. Additional lectures have featured Gary Nabhan, Tyrone Hayes, Galye MacKechnie, and several scientists from Utah.
Looking Ahead to Nature of Things 2010 Series
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The line-up for the 2010 Series is in development. To be the first to hear how will be participating in next year's series, and to take advantage of the UMNH Member Exclusive ticket sales offer, sign-up for the UMNH Insider e-News Mailing List.
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Overview of the Nature of Things 2009 Series
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Thomas Friedman
Hot, Flat, and Crowded:
Why we need a green revolution and how it can renew America
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
7:00 p.m.
Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City
Thomas Friedman, called by the BBC "the world's greatest commentator", brings a fresh outlook to the crises of destabilizing climate change and rising competition for energy -- both of which could poison our world if we do not act quickly and collectively. Friedman will speak to all who are concerned about the state of America in the global future.
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Want to talk about it? The UMNH Community Book Group met on Monday, April 6, 2009, at the Tracy Aviary, to discuss Friedman's lecture and book. Special guest, University of Utah Hinckley Institute student Johnny Spendlove, joined us as we discussed what a green revolution would look like in our local and state community. Follow the discussion and join in at the UMNH Book Talk Blog!
UMNH Book Talk Blog & Community Discussion
Missed the lecture? Visit Thomas Friedman's website to view the lecture as delivered at the London School of Economics and download other materials related to the presentation.
Thomas L. Friedman Website
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Featured Lectures
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Challenges to living in Prehistoric Americas:
Climate change, fires, and the arrival of the Europeans
Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Utah and
Curator of the Utah Museum of Natural History’s Garrett Herbarium
By examining natural changes in climate and new archaeological discoveries, Dr. Power’s research sheds new light on the role of humans in shaping our relationship with the land during the past several thousand years.
With a just-published study of the links between climate change, humans and wildfire, Dr. Power will explore how climate variability and prehistoric landuse practices can inform our definition of sustainability for the future.
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Fred Wagner
Global Warming, New Ecosystems, and a “No Analog Future”
Professor Emeritus, Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University
What are the implications of ecosystems with no reference points to the past? Some scientists predict that global warming will have such a profound impact on communities of plants and animals that entire ecosystems will be completely rearranged, creating ecosystem structures never seen before.
Dr. Wagner, who has been active for years in the conversation about climate change, will examine this question as he discusses how changes affecting a single species can create a domino effect in the relationships between multiple species.
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Tyrone Hayes
From Silent Spring to Silent Night: Frogs as Canaries
2004 National Geographic Emerging Explorer
University of California, Berkeley
Frogs can tell us much about changes in our environment and threats to human health. With fieldwork in the United States and Africa, Dr. Hayes is synthesizing ecological and evolutionary studies to learn how changes at an animal’s molecular level affect its ability to adapt to changes within its environment.
Tyrone Hayes visits the Toadally Frogs exhibit -- See the Video on YouTube
See Tyrone Hayes' Atrazine Rap on YouTube
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For additional information on The Nature of Things, call 801.581.5567 or Email Us
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Nature of Things 2009 Sponsors
The Nature of Things 2009 is presented in partnership with the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah and underwritten by the R. Harold Burton Foundation.
Additional sponsors include
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