Dinosaurs and Drinks Lecture & Happy Hour
Join us for an evening of dinosaur discussion and delicious drinks!
6-7 p.m.: ORIGINS OF THE BIRD BRAIN: HOW FOSSILS INFORM THE HISTORY OF EVOLUTIONARY TRANSFORMATIONS
Despite the negative implications of the term “bird brain”, modern birds in fact are intelligent animals that exhibit an array of complex behaviors. These are supported by a large brain that differs significantly from their closest living relatives, the crocodilians. The evolutionary descent of birds from a lineage of dinosaurs that survived the extinction at the end of the Cretaceous allows us to infer that they inherited this uniquely structured brain from their non-avian ancestors. The rich history of fossil discovery in the western United States has been key to filling out the deep record of bird evolution. The brain is no exception, and we will explore how these, and other, fossils have contributed to our knowledge of the evolutionary transformations that gave rise to the modern bird brain.
7-8:30 p.m.: Guests will be able to continue the dino debate while enjoying craft cocktails (spirit-free options available) from Dutch Courage Gin Bar and view Leave No Trace: John Work Garrett in the American Outdoors which inspired tonight’s lecture theme.
