Lecture with Doug Emlen, Montana Professor of the Year

Extravagant Weapons: The Story Behind Arms Races in Animals and People

Photo of Doug Emlen holding a sabertooth skull

4 p.m. Tuesday, March 29 in the UC North Ballroom, followed by light refreshments at 5 p.m.

Every animal has a weapon of one sort or another, but the overwhelming majority of weapons stay small.  Yet, sprinkled through the tree of life are species where weapons become extreme. Occasionally, human manufactured weapons also evolve to extremes.  Emlen reveals that the same critical conditions trigger arms races in both cases, and the most crucial prerequisite is duels.  A journey that begins with biology becomes the story of all weapons, as Emlen discusses beetles and battleships, crabs and the Cold War.  

Please join us at this lecture to celebrate Doug Emlen's 2015 CASE Montana Professor of the Year award. This award recognizes the most outstanding undergraduate instructors in the country. Professor Emlen is one of 35 selected nationwide from nearly 400 top nominated professors.