Calendar of Events
The Past, Present and Future of Biodiversity
From molecules to biomes, biodiversity represents the cumulative biological diversity that has evolved during Earth’s 4.6-billion-year history. It has been estimated 100 million species call Earth home, but less than 2 million have been named so far. Biodiversity provides the raw material for sustaining life through various ecosystem services, including providing clean water, regulating climate and cycling nutrients. Biodiversity is vital to sustaining ecosystems and human well-being through crop pollination, medicine and recreation. Yet it is declining at a rate faster than any time in history, prompting scientists to work more rapidly to address the consequences of such changes. In this two-week forum, Assistant Professor of Biology Daniel Hughes will offer an overview of biodiversity research, from the origins of conservation biology to the contemporary climate and extinction crises. In the first session, we will define biodiversity, discuss what we know about past changes in biodiversity and examine the current state of global biodiversity. The second presentation will explore case studies from around the globe about how biodiversity changes and the conservation efforts that are rescuing species from the brink. Integrating his own research on biodiversity in Central Africa and eastern Iowa, Dr. Hughes will provide a variety of examples and perspectives about the range of threats to biodiversity and the actions that can be taken to conserve species for future generations.
Thursday Forum will resume in-person lectures during the 2021-2022 season.* In-person forum sessions are held in Kesler Lecture Hall of Hickok Hall on the Coe campus. Each session begins with registration from 8:45-9:15 AM, followed by the class until 11:30 AM. The sessions blend lecture, media and discussion. Masks are currently required for all Thursday Forum presenters and attendees. In the event of inclement weather, consult local media outlets to find out if the day’s forum will take place.
Admission to individual lectures is $10 per week. Payment can be made in person on Thursday mornings by cash or personal check. Credit card payments can be processed by registering here in advance. For more information about registering in advance, paying by credit card or ordering gift certificates, call 319.399.8523 or visit www.coe.edu/thursday-forum.
*Thursday Forum will follow Coe's Safe Campus Initiative guidelines for in-person gatherings. Thursday Forum programs may pivot to an online format should campus or community health conditions require. Any such changes would be announced on the Thursday Forum website.