PITTSBURGH ECOFORUM PRESENTS EMINENT BIOLOGIST LECTURE SERIES

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 18-- Bringing together the expertise and shared mission of several area organizations and institutions involved in the study of our ecology, the newly-formed Pittsburgh EcoForum announces its inaugural Eminent Biologist Lecture Series. Six prominent scientists will present lectures on a wide 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.

"Pittsburgh is rich in major institutions and organizations whose missions include education at many levels in the broad areas of the ecology, evolution, biodiversity and conservation," said Susan Kalisz, organizer of EcoForum and associate professor of biology at the University of Pittsburgh.

The EcoForum partners include: Pitt's Department of Biological Sciences and the Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Garden Club of Allegheny County, National Aviary in Pittsburgh, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh Zoo and Western PA 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," said Kalisz.

EcoForum's lecture series begins on Oct. 7, all lectures start at 7 p.m. in the Carnegie Museum of Art Auditorium, 4400 Forbes Ave, Oakland. Admission for all six lectures is $30 for the general public, $20 for students with valid ID. For more information and reservations contact (412) 624-1299 or visit the EcoForum website at http://www.pitt.edu/~ecoforum.

The 1998/99 EcoForum Eminent Biologist Lectures:

Oct. 7, 1998 Evolution, Behavior and Genetics of Snakes and Salamanders. Stevan J. Arnold, Oregon State University, Professor and Chair of the Department of Zoology.

Nov. 4, 1998 Ecology of Tropical Rainforests. Stephen P. Hubbell, Princeton University, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Dec. 2, 1998 Behavioral Ecology of Baboons. Jeanne Altmann, University of Chicago, Professor of Ecology and Evolution.

Feb. 3, 1999 Habitat Fragmentation and Bird Populations. Scott K. Robinson, Senior Scientist, Center for Wildlife Ecology, Illinois Natural History Survey.

Mar. 3, 1999 Global Biodiversity. Peter H. Raven, Washington University, Professor of Botany and director of the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Apr. 7, 1999 Evolutionary Relationships and Diversification. Michael J. Donoghue, Harvard University, Professor of Biology and director of the Harvard University Herbaria.

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