The following message was recently distributed via email by Jassim Al-Oboudi, Ph.D. student and chair of the JF Crow Institute’s annual Darwin Day events:

As chair of the JF Crow Institute’s annual Darwin Day events, I am putting out a general call for participation in upcoming Darwin Day events in February, 2022. (https://evolution.wisc.edu/darwin-day/)

We have diverse opportunities available, with the possibility of additional activities being included based on interest. Right now, the following events are seeking participants:

• Wednesday Nite @ the Lab. Science talk for a general audience. (https://science.wisc.edu/wednesday-nite-at-the-lab/wntl-users-guide/)
  • Wednesday, Feb 9th, 2022. 7pm-8:15pm
• Evolution Seminar Series (ESS). Formal scientific lecture (https://evolution.wisc.edu/seminars/seminars-info/)
  • Thursday, Feb 10th, 2022. 12:30pm – 1:30pm
• Afterschool Expeditions (AE). Partnered with WARF. (https://www.warf.org/programs-events/k-12-community/afterschoolexpeditions/)
  • Monday, Feb 14th, 2022. 3pm-4pm or 4pm-5pm (4 slots)
  • Monday, Feb 21st, 2022. 3pm-4pm or 4pm-5pm (4 slots)
  • Monday, Feb 28th, 2022. 3pm-4pm or 4pm-5pm (4 slots)
  • Brief-ish description (contact for more details): AE will take place at community centers around Madison (Goodman Community Center, Meadowood Neiborhood Center, etc;). Two booths per site, multiple sites per day. Groups of children 6-20 in size and ~6-12 in age (K-6). 45min to 1hr time slots. Play a game, lead an activity, talk about your science and why you became a scientist, and what evolution means to you and your work. Optional (but strongly encouraged) online training session on Monday, Feb 7th, 2022. Activities are being developed and collected for volunteers without their own idea for an activity.
  • If interested, please fill out this form (https://forms.gle/EU5M8tzQXKFSQMCw5)
• Lightning Talk Competition
  • (Tuesday, Feb 15th, 2022 (Time TBD))
  • Are you a persuasive person with a passion for evolution? Come join a graduate-level 3-minute evolution lightning talk competition. Condense your thesis, argue against a commonly held principle, argue for an uncommon principle, or any similar strategy as long as it is focused on evolution. Participants will be judged by a small professor panel on criteria such as persuasiveness, scientific merit, and creativity. The winner will receive a book prize and something to brag about on their CV.
• Digital content for evolution engagement.
  • Know a cool concept in evolution that you want to communicate? What to share what evolution means to your work? We are seeking content creators and communicators to produce digital content to communicate evolution to a broader audience. Some past examples: https://evolution.wisc.edu/educational-resources/

Please help spread the word and do not hesitate to reach out (aloboudi@wisc.edu) for more details. Thank you for your attention and have a wonderful day!

Jassim Al-Oboudi
PhD Student, MDTP
Hittinger Lab
UW Madison
aloboudi@wisc.edu