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Thursday, April 26, 2007 7:00 PM
[ALOUD] at Central Library
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Dr. Donald Johanson

In conversation with Dr. Luis Chiappe, Chairman, Department of Vertebrate Paleontology and Associate Curator, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

From Lucy to Language

A leading paleontologist and discoverer of the Lucy skeleton, Johanson has explored the Great Rift Valley of East Africa for more than three decades, seeking clues to our ultimate origins. One of the most controversial scientists working today, he is director of the legendary Institute for Human Origins.

 

Dr. Johanson is a prolific author, having published nearly 100 scientific papers and several books. His first book, Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind, co-authored with Maitland Edey, won the American Book Award in Science (1981). His dedication to the popularizing of science has continued in Blueprints: Solving the Mystery of Evolution (with Edey, 1989) Lucy's Child: The Discovery of a Human Ancestor (with J. Shreeve, 1989), and Journey from the Dawn (with K. O'Farrell, 1990)

In February, 1994, Dr. Johanson hosted and narrated a landmark, three-part television series on human origins entitled IN SEARCH OF HUMAN ORIGINS for the distinguished PBS science program NOVA.

Dr. Johanson received his MA and Ph.D in 1970 and 1974 from the University of Chicago, where he studied human paleontology. At the Cleveland Museum of Natural History he developed the distinguished Laboratory of Physical Anthropology. In 1981, he moved to Berkeley, California where he founded the internationally acclaimed, multidisciplinary center, Institute of Human Origins.

A native of Argentina, Dr. Chiappe studied biological sciences at the University of Buenos Aires and obtained a Ph D in July of 1992. He returned to Argentina in 1996 to work as avisiting professor at the National University of San Luis, where he still periodically teaches college courses. Since 1999, Dr. Chiappe has taught as an adjunct professor for the Department of Earth Sciences at University of Southern California (USC).

 

In the field, Dr. Chiappe has conducted extensive research on the evolution of dinosaurs. For many years, he has explored the desolate regions of Patagonia and Central Asia, and his research has been featured in several publications, including National Geographic. His recent discovery of thousands of dinosaur eggs is one of the most significant paleontology developments in the last few years.

 

Dr. Chiappe works as the Chairman of the Department of Vertebrae and an Associate Curator at the esteemed Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Recent exhibits he helped develop include Tiniest Giants (2001), which featured his dinosaur egg discovery, and SuperCroc (2001).

Directions/Parking:
Unless otherwise indicated, ALOUD programs take place at the Los Angeles Central Library's Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071.