University Times

Bringing together the expertise and shared mission of several area organizations and institutions involved in the study of ecology, the newly formed Pittsburgh EcoForum will hold its inaugural Eminent Biologist Lecture Series in the Carnegie Museum of Art Auditorium.

Six prominent scientists will present lectures on a variety of ecological issues, hoping to bring Pittsburgh to the forefront as a national center for the study of the interrelationships of organisms and their natural environment. Stevan Arnold, professor and chair of zoology at Oregon State University, will be the first lecturer Oct. 7. He will speak on "Evolution, Behavior and Genetics of Snakes and Salamanders." "Pittsburgh is rich is major institutions and organizations whose missions include education at many levels in the broad areas of ecology, evolution, biodiversity and conservation," said Susan Kalisz, organizer of EcoForum and associate professor of biology at Pitt.

The EcoForum partners include Pitt's Department of Biological Sciences, the Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Garden Club of Allegheny County, the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. "With the establishment of EcoForum, we hope to engage these institutions in research and educational collaborations to take advantage of their overlap in interests and expertise," Kalisz said.

Other scheduled speakers in the series include: Stephen Hubbell, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, Princeton University, Nov. 4; Jeanne Altmann, professor of ecology and evolution, University of Chicago, Dec. 2; Scott Robinson, senior scientist, Center for Wildlife Ecology, Illinois Natural History Survey, Feb. 3; Peter Raven, professor of botany, Washington University (St. Louis), and director, Missouri Botanical Garden, March 3; Michael Donoghue, professor of biology and director, University Herbaria, Harvard University, April 7.