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WAA: Saint Louis Chapter Founders’ Day Celebration

Join us for a spirited Founders’ Day gathering to celebrate everything we love about our university. Build connections with local alumni as you experience a captivating presentation from fellow Badger David Baum, professor of botany, who will discuss his research into the origins of life on Earth — and possibly elsewhere, too! When Badgers connect, great things happen!

The cost is $50 per person or $35 for alumni who graduated in 2018–23. A buffet of heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar will be available.

Register by April 29.

About the Program

Enjoy a special presentation:

The Science of Life’s Origin

How living systems emerge from simple chemistry is one of the biggest unanswered scientific problems. Dr. Baum’s research team combines insights from evolutionary biology, ecology, chemistry, and physics to explain how the process of evolution can bootstrap itself into existence. This exciting research area suggests that the origin of life may be much easier than previously thought and implies that simple, life-like systems may be abundant in the universe.

The evening will include a silent auction to benefit the WAA: Saint Louis Chapter’s scholarship fund. Items will include autographed basketballs, autographed footballs, and other Badger items!

About the Speaker

David A. Baum is a professor and former chair in the Department of Botany at UW–Madison and a fellow of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery. He conducts research in evolutionary biology and the origins and early evolution of life. He obtained his undergraduate degree in botany at Oxford University, earned a PhD in population and evolutionary biology from Washington University, and then conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin. He served on the faculty of the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, earning tenure in 2000, before returning to the University of Wisconsin in 2001. Baum has published two books and more than 130 research publications and is currently working on a new book on the origins of life. He has been awarded an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Young Investigator Award, a National Science Foundation Career Award, and a John Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and he is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He teaches courses in introductory biology and evolution and was honored with UW–Madison’s Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2015.

Additional Information

Well-lit, on-site parking is free.

When you register, please inform us of any dietary restrictions you may have or physical accommodations you may require, such as captions, interpreting services, or other needs.


The WAA: Saint Louis Chapter will hold this event in accordance with all local public health guidance. Mask usage is welcome but not required. Participants who are sick are asked to stay home to help keep our Badger community safe and healthy. If conditions require a change to this event, you will be notified via email or phone call.

May 2, 2024
WHEN
May 2, 2024
6-10 p.m.
WHERE
Sky Music Lounge
930 Kehrs Mill Road
Ballwin, MO
View Map and Venue Details
COST

$35 – 50

Sky Music Lounge
930 Kehrs Mill Road
Ballwin, MO
May 2, 2024
WHEN
May 2, 2024
6-10 p.m.
WHERE
Sky Music Lounge
930 Kehrs Mill Road
Ballwin, MO
View Map and Venue Details
COST

$35 – 50

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