Yesterday was Stephen Jay Gould's birthday (1941 to 2002). I admit to not being familiar with all of his work. I have, however, read a large section of his book "The Structure of Evolutionary Theory" as well as several of his papers including his 1972 paper with Eldredge on Punctuated Equilibrium (Punctuated Equilibria: an alternative to phyletic gradualism) and his 1979 paper with Lewontin on spandrels (The spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian Paradigm). I'll spare you a summary of these papers. Needless to say, Stephen Jay Gould has been an enormous influence for all palaeontologists and evolutionary biologists regardless of their agreement or disagreement with his hypotheses and ideas.
When I started graduate school in 2008 (my MSc), the first class I took was a group examination of Gould's final book. We did a lot of whining about how long and wordy the book is. Three years after taking that course, one year into my PhD, I realize that reading his book was an unparalleled experience. Having read it so early in my graduate career, it has really shaped the way I think about evolution (whether this is good or bad is in the eye of the beholder).
So thank you Gould and happy belated birthday!
If you would like to read more about Stephen Jay click the link below and download his papers (you might actually have to go to the library to read about PE). You won't regret it.
http://stephenjaygould.org/
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Evolution is most definitely true
I suppose we should start this year off with a bit about why evolution is true. I doubt I need to convince anyone who is reading this blog of that fact but I think we will all enjoy a lecture by Jerry Coyne (Author of the book "Why Evolution is True").
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1m4mATYoig&feature=player_embedded
The rest of the videos can be found at:
http://commonsenseatheism.com/?p=4383
The rest of the videos can be found at:
http://commonsenseatheism.com/?p=4383
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Science!
Brad sent me this abstract. Definitely goes up there as one of the 'best' abstracts I have ever read. Lets just say I'm looking forward to the paper...
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2011AM/finalprogram/abstract_197227.htm
Also, as Dani mentioned in the previous post, the new semester is upon us and it's almost time to get the discussion meetings running again. If you are interested in contributing and/or attending meetings, please contact Dani (dfraser1@connect.carleton.ca) or myself (tcullen@connect.carleton.ca).
- T
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
New Semester!
Hi all,
The new semester is upon us and that means I will begin updating the blog once again. If you're interested in receiving weekly emails from the discussion group please email me at dfraser1@connect.carleton.ca.
Every week I will post a link to the focal paper and will post a summary of our discussion. I also tend to post interesting evolution and paleontology papers as I come across them.
I will be sending around an email relatively shortly about an organizational meeting (an excuse to drink beer at Mike's Place!).
The new semester is upon us and that means I will begin updating the blog once again. If you're interested in receiving weekly emails from the discussion group please email me at dfraser1@connect.carleton.ca.
Every week I will post a link to the focal paper and will post a summary of our discussion. I also tend to post interesting evolution and paleontology papers as I come across them.
I will be sending around an email relatively shortly about an organizational meeting (an excuse to drink beer at Mike's Place!).
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Interesting Papers April-May 2011
In the April 14 edition of Nature Jin Meng and colleagues published a paper on the mammalian transitional middle ear.
Meng, Jin, Yuanqing Wang, Chuankui Li. 2011. Transitional mammalian middle ear from a new cretaceous Jehol eutriconodont. Nature 472: 181-185.
In the same issue Paul K. Strother and colleagues published on the earliest evidence for non-marine eukaryotes.
Strother, Paul K., Leila Battison, Martin D. Brasier, and Charles H. Wellman. 2011. Earth's earliest non-marine eukaryotes. Nature 472: 1-5. (the page numbers are probably wrong, my download said this was in volume 000).
Meng, Jin, Yuanqing Wang, Chuankui Li. 2011. Transitional mammalian middle ear from a new cretaceous Jehol eutriconodont. Nature 472: 181-185.
In the same issue Paul K. Strother and colleagues published on the earliest evidence for non-marine eukaryotes.
Strother, Paul K., Leila Battison, Martin D. Brasier, and Charles H. Wellman. 2011. Earth's earliest non-marine eukaryotes. Nature 472: 1-5. (the page numbers are probably wrong, my download said this was in volume 000).
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
End of the Winter Semester
The winter semester has ended (finally!). The piles of grading are gone! Many of us will depart for field work while others will depart for museums. This semester we discussed several exciting and interesting papers. I hope to see all of you again in the fall!
The group would also like to congratulate all graduating members! Congrats and best of luck in your future endeavours!
We congratulate all undergraduate members who are starting graduate school in the fall. We wish you luck (and better see you at discussion in the fall)!
We would also like to say goodbye to Joanna. We hope Drumheller treats her well.
The group would also like to congratulate all graduating members! Congrats and best of luck in your future endeavours!
We congratulate all undergraduate members who are starting graduate school in the fall. We wish you luck (and better see you at discussion in the fall)!
We would also like to say goodbye to Joanna. We hope Drumheller treats her well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)