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

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 – 7 p.m.

Special Events Forum, 1st Floor

Edward J. Bloustein School of Public Planning and Policy

33 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Sponsored by Office of the Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

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 or How Evolution Works.” 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.

The lecture, reception and book signing are open to the public and free of charge. Reservations are a must; please phone 732-932-2000, extension 4205, or email discovery@aesop.rutgers.edu  by October 9, 2009.