Science Happy Hour - The End of the Line: What Steam Trains Can Tell Us About Evolution

What can the rise and fall of steam locomotives reveal about the history of life on Earth? In this fascinating presentation, Dr. Lieberman explores one of evolutionary biology’s biggest questions: does competition truly determine which species survive and which go extinct?
While competition has long been considered a driving force in evolution, the fossil evidence supporting that idea is surprisingly limited. Using the dramatic replacement of steam locomotives by diesel engines, electric trains, automobiles, and trucks as a real-world case study, Dr. Lieberman draws compelling parallels between technological innovation and biological evolution.
Through this unique lens, audiences will discover the patterns scientists should expect to see in nature if competition is indeed a major force shaping life’s history — and whether those same patterns actually appear in the fossil record.
Blending science, history, technology, and storytelling, this thought-provoking talk offers a fresh perspective on evolution and extinction that will change the way you look at both the past and the future.
Wednesday, June 24th
Doors open at 5:30 PM for Happy Hour drinks
Presentation begins at 6PM
Tickets are FREE for members and $10 for non-members