Distinguished Lecturer:
Nick Lane, Ph.D.

Biochemist and honorary reader at University College London.
Author of Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution; Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life and Oxygen: the Molecule that Made the World.

"The Great Inventions of Life"

When: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 7 pm
Where:: Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, 33 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ

If you've ever wondered (or been asked!) "Why is the sky blue?" or "Where did I come from," Nick Lane has the answers.

Popular author and lecturer, Nick Lane, Ph.D., is an honorary reader at University College London. His newest book, Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution, is receiving five-star reviews from professionals and bloggers alike for its ability to explain complex science in a clear and engaging manner. He punctuates serious scientific discussion with charming Britishisms (try Googling "cock a snook") and is happy to express his opinions of current scientific thinking.

Life Ascending is a celebration of the inventiveness of life and of our own ability to read the deep past to reconstruct the history of life on earth. Lane's list of great inventions includes: the origin of life, DNA, photosynthesis, the complex cell, sex, movement, sight, hot blood, consciousness, and death. His previous books, Oxygen (2002) and Power, Sex, Suicide (2005) were each named one of the "Books of the Year" by The Sunday London Times and The Economist, respectively. He also is author of numerous articles in such publications as Nature, New Scientist, Scientific American, and The Scientist.

Dr. Lane's lecture will focus on "The Great Inventions of Life." This presentation–-especially timely during the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin's Origin of the Species–-will focus on key issues of evolution. For example, the evolution of complex traits, like the eye, is often held to be the greatest challenge to natural selection, especially at the molecular level. In fact, some of these "inventions" illustrate the sheer ingenuity of selection better than anything else. In this public lecture, Lane will consider what some of the most celebrated inventions of life can tell us about the workings of evolution.

RSVP by October 14 to 732-932-2000, ext. 4205, or discovery@aesop.rutgers.edu.

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