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Next '2nd Thursday Science Talk,' on Virginia’s barrier islands, is this Thursday

"Virginia’s barrier islands: A natural laboratory for the study of ecology and evolution"

The next edition of the Virginia Museum of Natural History’s 2017-18 “2nd Thursday Science Talks” series takes place Thursday, December 14 from 6 to 7 p.m., when Dr. Raymond D. Dueser, Professor Emeritus at Utah State University and Visiting Professor at the University of Virginia, presents “Virginia’s barrier islands: A natural laboratory for the study of ecology and evolution”. Free admission to the 2nd Thursday Science Talks is made possible by VMNH Membership support.

Because they are isolated from the mainland, islands typically are inhabited by fewer species and frequently serve as model systems to study interactions among organisms that are much more complex on continents. As a result, islands have played a prominent role in the development of concepts that are fundamental to ecological and evolutionary theory. During the presentation, Dr. Dueser, who also serves as a VMNH Research Associate, will explore some of the patterns and processes that he and other researchers have discovered by studying animals that live on the Virginia barrier islands.

"2nd Thursday Science Talks" take place on the second Thursday of each month from 6 to 7 p.m. from October through May. Presentations are delivered by VMNH curators, research associates and collaborating scientists. Geared towards audiences with a keen interest in science, the presentations also increase awareness of the varied and unique scientific career paths available for students.