Dr. Scott Egan, assistant professor of biosciences at Rice University, will present “Natural selection promotes the ‘Origin of the Species’ among populations of herbivorous insects” at Stephen F. Austin State University’s fifth annual Darwin Day program. The event will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, in the Kennedy Auditorium.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University will host its fifth annual Darwin Day program from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, in the Kennedy Auditorium with featured speaker Dr. Scott Egan presenting “Natural selection promotes the ‘Origin of the Species’ among populations of herbivorous insects.”

Darwin Day is an annual celebration of science that is held on or around the birthday of evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin to commemorate his contributions to the understanding of the biological sciences.

“Students interested in the sciences, or who simply have questions about the origin of life on Earth, occasionally have existential conflicts between the scientific truths of the natural world and what students have learned through their faith,” said Dr. Stephen Mullin, professor and chair of the Department of Biology. “This presentation provides yet another piece of evidence illustrating what science has taught us about the natural world.”

Egan will present research on three core areas in the field of ecological speciation during the presentation.

“Ecology has always played a pivotal role in the study of speciation, however, within the last three decades, the role of ecology has been the subject of intensified research,” Egan said.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Mullin at (936) 468-3601 or sjmullin@sfasu.edu.