First Fridays at the Natural History Museum ends June 5

Season Finale of First Fridays at the Natural History Museum Explores Why Darwin Matters: Evolution, Intelligent Design, and the Battle for Science and Religion

The popular discussion and live music series concludes June 5,
featuring historian of science and bestselling author Dr. Michael Shermer, and performances by Z-Trip and Dam Funk

WHAT The 5th season of the highly successful forum and concert series First Fridays concludes June 5, 2009 with its unique blend of live music by emerging artists, discussions with expert authors, interactive science programming, curator-guided tours, and a dynamic exploration of Charles Darwin—his life, the science of evolution, and the revolutionary impact of the man and his work.

The Museum will stay open late to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of his world-altering work On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. NHM Polychaetes Curator, Dr. Kirk Fitzhugh, gives a tour of NHM sea worms with an emphasis on intelligent design, evolution, and the nature of science.

Following this, Dr. Michael Shermer, historian of science and bestselling author, examines what evolution really is, how we know it happened, and how to test it. Shermer looks at science through a brief history of the evolution-creation trials and debates from the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925 to the intelligent design controversies of the 1990s and 2000s, and demonstrates how and why creationism and intelligent design are not part of science. The Phatal DJ and The Gaslamp Killer spin beats throughout the night, with performances by Dam Funk and Z-Trip.

WHEN June 5, 2009 (extended Museum hours until 10 p.m.)

DJ Dance Party Through the night The Phatal DJ and The Gaslamp Killer (dublab.com)

8 p.m. Dam Funk
Z-Trip

Guided Tours 5:30 & 6 p.m. Tour of NHM sea worms with Dr. Kirk Fitzhugh NHM Polychaetes Curator, Dr. Kirk Fitzhugh, gives a tour of NHM sea worms with emphasis on intelligent design, evolution, and the nature of science.

Discussion 6:30 & 7 p.m. Why Darwin Matters: Evolution, Intelligent Design, and the Battle for Science and Religion Historian of science and bestselling author Dr. Michael Shermer examines what evolution really is, how we know it happened, and how to test it. Shermer looks at science through a brief history of the evolution-creation trials and debates from the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925 to the intelligent design controversies of the 1990s and 2000s, and demonstrates how and why creationism and intelligent design are not part of science.

WHERE The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is located at 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles.

ADMISSION Advanced tickets for First Fridays will be sold via Ticketweb.com. Free for NHM members. Tickets are $9 for adults, $6.50 for children. Curator-led tours, films, discussions and performances are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and early purchase is recommended. For more information, visit the NHM’s website at www.nhm.org/firstfridays or call (213) 763-DINO.

First Fridays is part of Weekends at NHM, the Museum’s ongoing initiative to offer a variety of weekend activities for audiences of all ages.