NACOGDOCHES, Texas In a celebration of scientific curiosity and the contributions of biologists, Stephen F. Austin State Universitys Department of Biology is set to celebrate Darwin Day Feb. 12 with special guest speaker Dr. David Hillis from The University of Texas at Austin.

Embracing the spirit of inquiry that defines Charles Darwin's groundbreaking contributions to evolutionary theory, Hillis will give his talk on Darwins Tree of Life hypothesis.

Hillis is the Alfred W. Roark Centennial Professor in Natural Sciences at UT Austin, where he studies molecular evolution and biodiversity in the Department of Integrative Biology. He is the director of UT Austins Biodiversity Center and also directs the Deans Scholars Program of the College of Natural Sciences.

"We are delighted to have Dr. Hillis on the SFA campus to speak at this special event as we gather together to celebrate, remember and reflect on not only the contributions of Darwin but also the contributions of many scientists in general," said Dr. Carmen Montaa, assistant professor of biology.

Hillis research is focused on the tree of life and how we can use it to understand processes of evolution. He is one of the foremost evolutionary biologists today investigating the evolutionary relationships among living organisms. His work has helped the study of the evolutionary development of a species or a group of organisms throughout most fields of molecular biology in recent years, from studies of the epidemiology of human immunodeficiency viruses to studies of the origin of life.

Hillis research appears in over 200 scientific publications, and he has authored numerous books, including his most recent: Armadillos to Ziziphus: A Naturalist in the Texas Hill Country." In recognition of his contributions to evolutionary biology, he has received many honors, including being elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences as well as the National Academy of Sciences. He has served as president of the Society for the Study of Evolution and the Society of Systematic Biologists.

Hillis will give his featured talk, Applications of the Great Tree of Life, from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 12 in the Miller Science Building, Room 139, on the SFA campus.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers college in Texas oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 37 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelors degrees, more than 40 masters degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

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Renowned evolutionary biologist to speak for SFA's Darwin Day event | SFA - Stephen F. Austin State University