Newton, Darwin Are Focus of Lecture by Juniata Biologist
(Posted February 6, 2012)
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HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Doug Glazier, professor of biology at Juniata specializing in evolutionary biology, will lecture on how two pioneers of science differ in their approach to studying and understanding life in "Clash of the Titans: The Competing Influences of Newton and Darwin in Biology" at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15, in Neff Lecture Hall in the von Liebig Center for Science.
The lecture is free and open to the public. The lecture is part of the Bookend Seminar Lecture series, which features afternoon lectures each month by Juniata College faculty.
Glazier will discuss how Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin advanced the study of science, and also how their markedly different methods resulted in major conflicts about how best to study and understand life.
Glazier will speak about how the differing worldviews of Darwin and Newton have caused conflict on two areas of biology: the mechanisms of evolution and biological scaling.
Glazier joined the Juniata faculty in 1980 from the Ecological Society of America where he was technical editor. His research interests include the functional biology and life-history evolution of mammals and crustaceans, animal ecology of soils and freshwater springs and the ecology of land invasions.
He received the 2000 Beachley Award for Distinguished Academic Service and in 2002, he and two colleagues received a grant from the Templeton Foundation to create the course God, Evolution and Culture. He was promoted to associate professor in 1987 and to full professor in 1991.
He teaches a variety of courses, including Biology I and II, Chemistry-Biology Laboratory, General Ecology, Environmental Biology, Evolutionary Ecology, Organic Evolution, Vertebrate Zoology, and God, Evolution and Culture.
Glazier has published more than 45 articles and abstracts and has received grants, awards and fellowships from many organizations including Sigma Xi, National Science Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, R. K. Mellon Foundation, and the von Liebig Foundation.
He earned a bachelor's degree in biology in 1973 from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. He went on to earn a doctoral degree in ecology in 1979 from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. He also has been a visiting researcher at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Sheffield in Sheffield, England, University of Lecce in Italy and Pomona College in Claremont, Calif.
Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.