The public is invited to delve into the creationism versus evolution debate during a free lecture Monday, April 4, at UM.

Elliott Sober is the Hans Reichenbach Professor and William Vilas Research Professor in the philosophy department at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He will present the next installment of the UM President's Lecture Series, "Creationism Versus Evolution," at 8 p.m. in the University Theatre.

Sober will discuss the design argument for the existence of God, which claims that the most plausible explanation of the complicated adaptations that organisms have is that they were created by an intelligent designer, namely God.

Presented in conjunction with UM's College of Arts and Sciences, Sober's appearance also is the Henry Bugbee Annual Lecture in Philosophy.

Earlier in the day, Sober will present a seminar titled "Morgan's Canon" -- in conjunction with UM's Philosophy Forum -- from 3:10 to 4:30 p.m. in Gallagher Building Room 123.

UM will host two roundtable discussions April 8-9 featuring foreign ambassadors from two former Soviet Republics in Central Asia.

The first roundtable is set for 7 p.m. Friday, April 8, in the University Center Theater. It will feature Ambassador Khamrokhon Zaripov of Tajikistan, Ambassador Baktybek Abdrisaev of Kyrgyzstan and John Fox, director of Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs in the Bureau of Europe and Eurasian Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. Mark Johnson, founder and director of the Montana World Affairs Council, will chair the first panel.

They will discuss various political, social, economic and environmental issues confronting the countries of Central Asia.

The second ambassadorial roundtable is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 9, in the UC's North Ballroom. The ambassadors will focus on the potential economic, commercial and educational ties between Montana and the countries of the Silk Road Region. U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns will chair the second panel.

The ambassadorial conference was organized by the U.S. Department of State, UM's Office of International Programs and UM's Central and Southwest Asia Program.

One of the most well-known theatrical couples in the Northwest will be honored by the School of Fine Arts during its fifth annual "Odyssey of the Stars -- A Celebration of Artistic Journeys."

The careers of UM alumni Jude and Don Thomson, owners and producers of the Bigfork Summer Playhouse, will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 2, in the University Theatre. The roster of playhouse alumni joining the production to mark the achievements of the Thomsons include J.K. Simmons, David Simmons, Betsi Morrison, Michael Morrison, Michael Smith, Curt Olds, Dan Erickson, Eden Atwood, Stephani Hardy and Darci Monsos.

A popular event benefiting the School of Fine Arts scholarship fund, Odyssey of the Stars features fine arts alumni who have gone on to successful careers in the arts, in concert with current students who dream of such careers.

This year's event spotlights the Department of Drama/Dance and will feature more than 200 outstanding UM student performers. Musical numbers from some of the playhouse's most popular shows will be performed by UM students, faculty members and guest alumni.

For ticket information, call the University Theatre box office at (406) 243-4051.

Montana Public Radio will celebrate its 40th anniversary with an on-air fund-raiser April 2-10 titled "40 Years of Montana Public Radio -- It's Powerful Stuff."

Many things have changed since KUFM-FM began broadcasting from the UM campus in 1965. The station has grown to a network that broadcasts via satellite to half the state, including Whitefish and Kalispell, Hamilton, Missoula, Helena, Butte, Dillon and Great Falls.

This year's pledge drive goal is $433,000. Each year Montana Public Radio receives donations from listeners that are then used as thank-you gifts for those who make pledges. These gifts are called premiums, and they range from homemade pies and cheesecakes to glider rides, river trips and gourmet meals.

The schedule includes "A Grand Reading of all Premiums," 5 p.m., Saturday, April 2; "Celtic Celidh (Gaelic for party)," which includes anniversary cake, Friday afternoon, April 8; and the ever-popular "Pet Wars," 5 p.m. Sunday, April 10.

People can pledge online or by calling (800) 325-1565 or (406) 243-6400.

The rise and decline of iconic Argentinian First Lady María Eva Duarte de Perón will take center stage April 5-9 and 12-16 in Missoula.

UM's production of "Evita" will run at 7:30 p.m. in the Montana Theatre of the Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center. Tickets cost $15 and audience discretion is advised.

A former Tony winner for Best Musical, "Evita" features Latin-, pop- and jazz-influenced music written by Andrew Lloyd Weber and lyrics by Tim Rice.

To reserve tickets call the Drama/Dance box office at (406) 243-4581 between 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Kids and adults of all ages can learn about Glacial Lake Missoula and its ice age floods Saturday, April 9, at the Montana Natural History Center in its new Hickory Street location.

The second annual Glacial Lake Missoula Discovery Day, hosted jointly by the MNHC and the Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute, will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $10 and door prizes include a two-hour aerial sightseeing tour of floods features in western Montana.

The Glacial Lake Missoula Discovery Day will feature eight ongoing presentations focusing on different aspects of the lake and floods, including:

• "Glacial Lake Missoula and Its Humongous Floods" with author and UM geology Professor Emeritus Dave Alt;
• "The Sedimentary Record of Flathead Lake," new research by UM geology Associate Professor Marc Hendrix;
• "The Really, Really Big Floods," a video presentation by Montana PBS producer John Twiggs; and
• "A Bird's-Eye View: Aerial Geoscience" by pilot and UM College of Technology adjunct instructor Richard Bayless.

The event takes place at the new Montana Natural History Center location, 120 Hickory Street near McCormick Park, in the former location of Big Sky Brewing Company. For more information, call (406) 327-0405.

The UM Percussion Ensemble and Islanders Steel Drum Band will present their Spring Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 8, in the University Theatre.

The concert will feature three internationally renowned guest artists: Steve Smith on drums, Jesus Diaz on Afro-Cuban percussion and Mark Ford on marimba. The three will perform together on such highlights as Lynn Glassock's "Off Axis," Pat Metheny's "Minuano 6/8" and Paul Simon's "Late In The Evening."

Tickets are $6 for general admission and $4 for students and seniors. For more information, call (406) 243-4819.

The UM women's golf team, led by sophomore Krista Swanson's first-place finish, posted a 36-hole total of 637 (+61) to finish second at the Richmond Spider Spring Invitational on Tuesday.

Montana ended play 10 strokes behind team champion Maryland at the Par-72, 5,957-yard Legacy Golf Club in Brandenton, Fla.

Swanson, who was tied for second after a first-round 77, carded a final-round 75 to earn individual medalist honors. Swanson held off Maryland's Kelly Calkin and Katie Stepanek, who both finished tied for second with a nine-over-par 153.

UM's outdoor track and field teams are competing at home for the second straight weekend today and tomorrow, with Montana hosting the Runner's Edge Al Manuel Invitational at Dornblaser Field.

The meet features four Big Sky Conference schools. Joining Montana will be Montana State, Idaho State and Eastern Washington.

Action starts this afternoon with the women's and men's hammer at 4:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. respectively. The remainder of the meet will take place Saturday, with field events starting at 10:45 a.m. and running events at 11:15 a.m.

Vanderbilt University got 21 points from Ashley Earley and advanced to the second round of the 2005 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship March 19 in Seattle. The 67-44 victory ended the Lady Griz's season.

The Lady Griz -- the Big Sky Conference regular-season and post-season tournament champions -- finished up with a 22-8 record.