Smithsonian plans to open human evolution hall
WASHINGTON — The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History plans to open a hall next year dedicated to the story of human evolution over 6 million years, officials announced Wednesday.
The nearly $21 million Hall of Human Origins will follow milestones in history — when humans started walking upright and started speaking, for example — as well as the impact of climate change and extinction of ancient species. It’s scheduled to open on March 17, 2010, marking the museum’s 100th anniversary on the National Mall.
“The exploration of human origins helps to tell us about how we came about and also helps place our own existence,” said curator Rick Potts, director of the museum’s Human Origins Program.
This will be the Smithsonian’s first permanent exhibit focused solely on human evolution. It will include hundreds of fossils, reconstructed faces of early humans and 75 cast reproductions of skulls. Interactives will show the human family tree and current research around the world.
The museum also is establishing an advisory group called the Broader Social Impacts Committee to foster discussion on how scientific and religious perspectives on human origins can be compatible. Potts said many people of deep religious faith also want to understand “how the science informs who we are.
“We’ve been very careful … to produce an exhibit that’s welcoming for everyone,” he said, “an honest place to look at the fossil evidence, to explore the fossil evidence and the archaeological evidence that informs about human evolution.”
The 15,000 square-foot hall is being funded by David H. Koch, a chemical engineer and executive vice president of energy company Koch Industries Inc. of Wichita, Kan. It will be named in his honor for his $15 million donation.
Koch, a billionaire who lives in New York City, was the Libertarian Party’s vice presidential candidate in 1980. He has been a donor to conservative causes as well as educational, medical and cultural groups.
His political donations haven’t worried Smithsonian curators because of his emphasis on science and culture, Potts said.
“What we find in David Koch is a person who’s committed to doing things for the American public that has no relationship to politics,” Potts said. “He has an ability to separate that out, and so do we.”
Koch, an engineer trained at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said he was pleased to support the exhibit. It was his first major contribution to the Smithsonian.
“The program has the power to influence the way we view our identity as humans, not only today, but for generations to come,” he said in a statement.
Another major funder of the project is physicist Peter Buck, co-founder of Subway restaurants, who gave $15 million to fund ongoing research and to begin new education programs. The funds will establish the Peter Buck Chair in Human Origins at the museum.
On the Net:
National Museum of Natural History: www.mnh.si.edu/
Related News
New book offers solution for teaching evolution without conflictOctober 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new book written by University of Alabama at Birmingham researcher claims to offer a novel way to teach evolution without offending students who have strong religious convictions against the theory. According to Professor Lee Meadows, Ph.D., author of a new book titled The Missing Link: An Inquiry Approach for Teaching All Students About Evolution, School districts, politicians and church leaders have debated for decades as to whether Charles Darwin's theory of evolution should be taught in schools.
Princess Diana exhibit to open at National Constitution Center in PhiladelphiaOctober 1st, 2009 Princess Diana exhibit to open in PhiladelphiaPHILADELPHIA — A traveling museum exhibit about the life of Princess Diana will open in Philadelphia on Friday. The exhibit "Diana: A Celebration" is at the National Constitution Center through Dec.
Boy, 3, scratched by lynx at Oklahoma zoo exhibit after wandering under rope barrierSeptember 30th, 2009 Boy, 3, attacked by lynx at Okla. zoo exhibitNORMAN, Okla.
Smithsonian centers will focus on climate change, the universe; museum looks to raise fundsSeptember 21st, 2009 Smithsonian reveals new plan to boost researchWASHINGTON — New centers at The Smithsonian Institution will focus on exploring the universe and climate change on Earth, world cultures and the American experience under a new plan approved Monday. Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough said the four centers around those priorities would be designed to help scientists and curators foster new research.
Lynching victim Emmett Till's glass-topped casket, icon of civil rights-era, to SmithsonianAugust 28th, 2009 Lynching victim Till's casket to go to SmithsonianCHICAGO — The glass-topped casket that displayed lynching victim Emmett Till's disfigured body to the world and became a rallying point for the civil rights movement is headed to the Smithsonian Institution, Till's family announced Friday. "Hopefully, when this casket, when it's on display at the Smithsonian, young boys and young girls from all over the world are going to see it and it's going to inspire them to fight for those who are too weak to fight for themselves," said Simeon Wright, Till's cousin.
Smithsonian names top Penn State research administrator as its next science chiefAugust 13th, 2009 Penn State scientist tapped for Smithsonian postWASHINGTON — Eva Pell, the senior vice president for research at Pennsylvania State University, has been appointed undersecretary for science at the Smithsonian Institution. Pell, 61, is an environmental scientist and was a professor for 35 years in Penn State's plant pathology department.
STORY REMOVED: US-Emergency-Funds-SurveyJuly 22nd, 2009 STORY REMOVED: US-Emergency-Funds-SurveyThe Associated Press has withdrawn its story about the survey on emergency funds. The poll was automated and The Associated Press does not report the results of such polls as a matter of policy.
Woodstock anniversary exhibit at rock museumJune 29th, 2009 Woodstock anniversary exhibit at rock museumNEW YORK — Peace and love will last a lot longer than three days at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, which is celebrating Woodstock's 40th anniversary with a new exhibit. From July 3 to Nov.
Titanic exhibit at museum in St. Paul through Jan. 3June 22nd, 2009 Titanic exhibit at science museum in St. PaulST. PAUL, Minn. — A collection of items from the Titanic is now at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St.
Correction: April 3 Aon executive compensation storyMay 13th, 2009 Correction: April 3 Aon exec compensation storyNEW YORK — In an April 3 story about compensation received by Aon Corp.'s president and chief executive, Gregory C. Case, The Associated Press reported erroneously the amount of his performance-based cash award and the value of his overall pay package for 2008.
Tearful Yoko Ono previews items from Rock Hall's John Lennon exhibit, including bloody clothesMay 12th, 2009 Tearful Yoko Ono talks about John Lennon exhibitNEW YORK — A new John Lennon exhibit is particularly emotional for his widow, Yoko Ono. Besides Lennon's guitars, letters and other personal effects, it also includes a paper bag containing the bloody clothes from the night he was shot to death.
Taking a walk: Base-stealing king Rickey Henderson to tour baseball Hall of Fame FridayMay 8th, 2009 Rickey Henderson to visit baseball Hall of FameCOOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Rickey Henderson, baseball's all-time leader in stolen bases and runs scored, won't be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame until July.
Smithsonian photography exhibit highlights President Obama's inaugurationApril 28th, 2009 Smithsonian exhibit highlights Obama inaugurationWASHINGTON — A grinning President Barack Obama leans in toward his wife as they stand in a freight elevator, a rare quiet moment captured with a camera as they hurry from one inaugural ball to the next. The photograph of the couple away from the cheering crowds and television cameras is one of more than 30 images highlighting the 2009 inauguration that will be displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History beginning Wednesday — Obama's 100th day in office.
Dogs are nearer to human than chimpanzees ?March 27th, 2009 Dogs better models than chimps for understanding human social behavior
WASHINGTON - In a new research, scientists have determined that though chimpanzees share many of our genes, dogs are a better model for understanding human social behavior, as they have lived with us for a long period. "Shared environment has led to the emergence of functionally shared behavioral features in dogs and humans and, in some cases, functionally analogous underlying cognitive skills," lead author Jozsef Topal explained to Discovery News.
Scientists discover elephant shark can see color much like humans canMarch 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have discovered that the elephant shark, a primitive deep-sea fish that belongs to the oldest living family of jawed vertebrates, can see color much like humans can. This discovery may enhance scientists' understanding of how color vision evolved in early vertebrates over the last 450 million years of evolution.
Loading ...