Explore the 'Origin of Limbed Vertebrates' April 20 at College of DuPage

Dr. Ted Daeschler presents "Great Steps in the History of Life: The Origin of Limbed Vertebrates" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 20, in the Health and Science Center, Room 1234, at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd. in Glen Ellyn.

This free event is part of the college's ongoing STEMinar series and is open to the public.

Presented in partnership with the Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois, The Field Museum and Northern Illinois University, Daeschler's talk chronicles two decades of paleontological exploration and research on Devonian-age vertebrate fossils from Pennsylvania, the Canadian Arctic and Antarctica, incorporating the methods of fossil discovery and the science behind exploring biotic diversity and the origin of limbed vertebrates.

Curator and professor at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Daeschler received a doctorate in geology from the University of Pennsylvania and has held recent research grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society and a variety of other donors.

Visit www.cod.edu/academics/stem/steminars.aspx for more information about this event.

The STEMinar Series at College of DuPage offers free talks throughout the fall and spring semesters covering a variety of topics related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Upcoming spring STEMinars include:

• Fermilab National Accelerator's Dr. Wesley Ketchum with his talk "Understanding the Universe through Neutrinos" on April 6.

• Adler Planetarium's Dr. Mark SubbaRao "Advancing Education and Research Through Immersive Data Visualization" on April 12.

The college's STEM offerings continue in April at the third annual STEM-CON, COD's interactive, family-based celebration of all things STEM. The free event features a broad range of activities and events, including expert speakers, hands-on experiences and interactive exhibits and STEM experts such as keynote speaker Emily Graslie, writer, producer, co-creator and host of The Brain Scoop, an educational YouTube channel that explores behind-the-scenes of The Field Museum.

The goal of STEM at College of DuPage is to enhance the quality of STEM instructional and outreach programs and to help current and future students prepare for careers in STEM fields. COD offers a broad range of academic programs designed to provide students with the educational background and training needed to successfully pursue an advanced degree or career in STEM.