Join us for an evening of dinosaur discussion and delicious drinks!
6pm-7pm: 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.
7pm-8:30pm: 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.
Amy Balanoff is an assistant professor in the Center for Functional Anatomy & Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is a research associate in the Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History in New York City and in the Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution) in Washington, D.C. Dr. Balanoff received her Ph.D. from Columbia University in New York. Her research focuses on the interplay of behavioral innovation with anatomical structure and function during the transition from the primarily two-dimensional environment of ground-dwelling dinosaurs to the three-dimensional environment experienced by birds today.
Gabriel S. Bever is an associate professor in the Center for Functional Anatomy & Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Bever is a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution) in Washington, D. C. He is an honorary research scientist in the Center for Evolutionary Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Dr. Bever earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and held research fellowships at the American Museum of Natural History and Yale University. His research interests center on the integration of paleontological and developmental data to better understand major transitions in vertebrate evolution.
Dutch Courage is a gin-centric cocktail bar located in the historic Baltimore neighborhood of Old Goucher. Whether you are looking for an adventuresome cocktail or need a cold beer, our staff has you covered. With over 100 bottles of Gin, Jenever, Old Tom and Barreled Gin, there is always something new to explore and help you discover your courage.
Event DateThursday, April 24, 2025Start Time: 6:00pm EDTEnd Time: 8:30pm EDT
4545 N Charles StBaltimore, MD 21210
ContactSheridan Libraries and MuseumsJeannette MarxenPrograms Manager4105160341museums@jhu.edu
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