Media Advisory 18-013

Media invited to NSF for distinguished lecture with evolutionary biologist Sheila Patek

Duke University researcher to discuss the evolutionary dynamics and interdisciplinary principles of extreme biological movement



Evolutionary biologist Sheila Patek



November 1, 2018



This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.

The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Directorate for Biological Sciences invites media and members of the public to a distinguished lecture series with Sheila Patek of Duke University. From the extraordinarily powerful acceleration of the mantis shrimp's hammer-like claws to the superfast jaws of trap-jaw ants, Patek studies, among other things, the mechanics of animal motion and will discuss how this translates into human-designed and engineered systems.

EVENT DETAILS:

WHO: NSF-funded biologist Sheila Patek leads a research group at Duke University that probes the dynamic interplay between evolutionary processes and physics in two broad systems: evolutionary physiology of communication in the sea and the evolutionary dynamics of fast animal movements. Her group's work provides innovative insights into human-designed and engineered systems. Patek regularly presents her research internationally through media appearances and academic and public lectures, including a mainstage TED Talks.

WHAT: NSF distinguished lecture: "From fast to ultrafast: Evolutionary dynamics and interdisciplinary principles of extreme biological movement."

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 7, 1 p.m. ET

WHERE: National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, Virginia 22314

RSVP:Media who plan to attend the lecture must contact Ivy Kupec at ikupec@nsf.gov or (703) 292-8796. Patek will be available for media interviews directly after the lecture.

For those who cannot attend in person, the lecture will be webcast live at https://bluejeans.com/256289671/.

-NSF-

Media Contacts

Ivy F. Kupec, NSF, (703) 292-8796, email: ikupec@nsf.gov



Program Contacts

Tara Bracken, NSF, email: tbracken@nsf.gov



The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2020 budget of $8.3 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

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