The Fellows of the Institute for the Science of Origins (ISO) held a surprise lunch May 29 to honor and recognize the leadership of Glenn Starkman, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the Center for Education and Research in Cosmology and Astrophysics at Case Western Reserve University.
The fellows also recognized Patricia Princehouse, director of the evolutionary biology program and outreach director for the Institute for the Science of Origins.
Starkman and Princehouse have helped to support the ISO initiatives, which began in the spring of 2008 to “advance the understanding and appreciation of the science of origins” with their involvement. Starkman was appointed to lead the Institute for the Science of Origins by Case Western Reserve President Barbara R. Snyder.
Starkman and Princehouse have been integral in a number of initiatives. Through their work, they:
- developed and promoted the Origin Scholars Program to the public,
- organized on-going monthly Origins talks at the Happy Dog Bar and Restaurant,
- helped develop a course in Evolutionary Medicine at CWRU,
- put together a committee to propose an undergraduate major in Origins,
- interacted with ISO partners including the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and ideastream, and
- raised money to support all of the foregoing activities, among others.
ISO brings together a team of faculty members from a broad variety of scientific backgrounds. The fellows seek to “understand how complex systems emerge and evolve, from the universe to the mind, from microbes to humanity.”