UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History lecture series begins Friday, Oct. 12

EUGENE, Ore. -- (Oct. 10, 2007) -- The 2007 Fall Lecture Series at the University of Oregon's Museum of Natural and Cultural History will focus on the Thomas Condon Fossil Collection, which was donated to the University of Oregon in 1876.The lectures are free and open to the public.

The talks will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 12 in Room 175, William W. Knight Law Center, 1515 Agate St. A reception at the museum, 1680 E. 15th Ave., will follow each of the talks.

Thomas Condon's collection of Oregon fossils laid the groundwork for what is known today as the department of geological sciences. This lecture series, "Oregon Land Before Time -- Exploring the Condon Fossil Collection," examines the historic collection in a contemporary light.

The lecture series schedule is listed below.

Friday, Oct. 12
"Fitting the Condon Collection in the 21st Century," by Edward Davis, instructor, UO geological sciences department and research associate at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

Friday, Oct. 19
"Thomas Condon and the Two Islands: Changing Visions of Oregon's Earliest Landscapes," by Ellen Morris Bishop, geologist, director of Oregon Paleo Lands Institute and author of  "In Search of Ancient Oregon: A Geological and Natural History." A book signing at the museum follows the lecture.

Friday, Oct. 26
"It's About Time: Designing Accurate Exhibits for the New Thomas Condon Paleontology Center, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument." By Ted Fremd, chief paleontologist at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

Museum hours which include the gift shop, Past and Presents, are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Admission is $3 for adults; $2 for seniors and youths 17 and under; and $8 for families (two adults and up to four youths) and free to the public on Wednesdays. Museum members, university faculty and staff, and students are admitted free. For more information, call the museum, 541-346-3024.

Contact: Pauline Austin, 541-346-3129, paustin@uoregon.edu

Link: Museum of Natural and Cultural History, http://natural-history.uoregon.edu/

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