Discoverer of Lucy, Dr. Donald C. Johanson, comes to UAA

World leading Paleoanthropologist shares his worldly adventures
On a 110-degree day in Ethiopia in 1974, Dr. Donald C. Johanson made the discovery of a lifetime: a 3.2 million-year old human fossil nicknamed "Lucy," the oldest and most complete fossilized human remains. Then in 1975 he discovered the fossilized remains of some 13 individuals, believed to be the oldest evidence of human ancestors living in groups.  These discoveries, along with Johanson's subsequent work, have been essential to our understanding of who we are and where we come from.

On Friday, August 24 at 7:30 p.m. in UAA's Wendy Williamson Auditorium, Johanson will give a free lecture entitled, "Human Origins:  New Discoveries from Africa."

"Understanding who we are is not just a matter of idle curiosity," says Johanson.  "It is a matter of survival for our own species as well as for the millions of other species with who we share Earth.  For without clearer understanding of who we are, we fall far short of the kind of future we would want for ourselves and for our children."

Since earning his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1974, Johanson's career has taken him all over the world to undertake field explorations in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Eritrea, and most recently, Iran.

Johanson is currently the director of Arizona State University's Institute of Human Origins, which he founded in 1981.  This Institute brings together scientists from diverse disciplines to conduct, interpret and publicize scientific research on human evolution.  

Dr. Johanson is at UAA as part of the 3rd Annual Freshman Convocation festivities sponsored by the Honors College.  Friday evening's lecture is free and open to the public.