Discoverer of Lucy, Dr. Donald C. Johanson, comes to UAA
by Kathleen McCoy |
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.
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