Human origins exhibit coming to Valley

Staff report

ANDOVER

Andover Public Library has been chosen as one of 19 public libraries in the United States to host “Exploring Human Origins: What Does it Mean to be Human?” – a traveling exhibit developed by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and the American Library Association.

The exhibit sheds light on what we know about human origins and how we know it. It welcomes different cultural perspectives on evolution and seeks to foster positive dialogue and a respectful exploration of the science.

Susan Hill, director of the Andover library, said her library is the only Ohio location awarded the exhibit.

The exhibit will open Thursday at Veterans Memorial Auditorium at Andover library, 5517 state Route 6 at Pymatuning Valley High School, and run through July 16. Admission is free, as are a series of special programs, including presentations by Smithsonian scientists Rick Potts and Briana Pobiner at 7 p.m. Friday, with local anthropologist Ordean Oyen.

A grand-opening Community Conversation on Evolution will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, hosted by the Smithsonian Broader Social Impacts Committee with Connie Bertka and James B. Miller.

Through panels, interactive kiosks, hands-on displays and videos, the exhibit invites audiences to explore milestones in the evolutionary journey of becoming human — from walking upright, creating technology and eating new foods, to brain enlargement and the development of symbolic language and complex societies.

For information, go to andover.lib.oh.us. Groups and organizations can schedule meetings in the classroom next to the Exhibit. Call Hill at 440-293-6792.

This project was funded by the John Templeton Foundation and the Peter Buck Human Origins Fund.

Here is the schedule of special programs at the Andover library related to the exhibit:

Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: K-12 educator workshop with Briana Pobiner (teachers must call to register).

Sunday, 2 p.m.: “Why Is It So Hard to Have a Baby: An evolutionary Perspective” by Scott Simpson of Case Western Reserve University.

June 23: Book clubs: 2-3 p.m., lunch; 3-4 p.m., tour exhibit; 4-5 p.m., book discussion of “The Human Age” by Diane Ackerman; call to Register if having lunch.

June 27, 1 p.m.: Bruce Latimer, CWRU: “Perils of Being Bipedal.”

June 28, 2 p.m.: Ordean Oyen, “Monkey Business on the African Savannah: A Family Adventure Doing Field Work in East Africa.”

July 2, 6 p.m.: Venie Hinson, fiber artist: “Basket making throughout the Ages.”

July 5, 2 p.m.: Patricia Princehouse, CWRU: “Can Human Evolution Help You Choose a Puppy?”

July 7, 7 p.m.: John Sites: “Old and New World Stone Age Artifacts,” with displays of artifacts.

July 8, 7 p.m.: Linda Armstrong, Pymatuning State Park: “Prehistoric Peoples of the Pymatuning Region.”

July 11, 1 p.m.: Jon A. Sefcek, Kent State University: “How Did (Or Will) You Choose Your Mate?”

July 12, 2 p.m.: Dean Oyen: “Why Do You Look the Way You Do?”

July 14, 7 p.m.: Karen Holen, chiropractor: “The Pain of Walking Upright and How We Help.”

July 16, 6 p.m.: Prehistoric pot-luck dinner.