The University Academic Planning Council approved the opening of a new UW-Madison institute for evolutionary studies last week.
The institute, called the J.F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, will consist of evolutionary research, teaching and outreach programs, according to David Baum, a UW-Madison professor of botany who is the director of the new center.
Baum said the institute began as a small group at UW-Madison called the Evolution Coordinating Committee about six years ago. He said it wasn't until last year that the group decided to become an institute.
According to Baum, the institute plans to hold a weekly research seminar series, review evolutionary curriculum offered on campus and push for a graduate program in evolutionary biology.
Baum said he feels it is important for all UW-Madison students to learn something about evolution, especially those interested in studying biology.
""Evolution is such an essential part of biology,"" he said. ""If you want to understand biology you have to understand where biological diversity came from.""
According to Baum, religious opposition has prevented evolution from being taught properly at some high schools, making it even more important to be provided at UW-Madison.
""At a university like this with great research in evolution, we've got to make sure that we provide students with every opportunity to learn about it,"" he said.
Baum said the institute receives a small amount of funding from the UW-Madison College of Letters and Science as well as the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and is open for all students, faculty and staff members to join.
