While some species collapse under the weight of environmental pressure, others — the "living fossils" — have endured for millions of years despite massive shifts in the Earth's climate. The secret to this incredible resilience may lie in decoding the internal "stress codes" and biological clocks that allow these organisms to anticipate danger before physical symptoms ever manifest. By bridging evolutionary history with modern tools like AI and CRISPR, researchers are learning how to identify and program these secrets of survival into the real world. Our panelists will explore how we can move from merely observing nature’s survivors to using predictive bio-design to determine which species will endure in a rapidly changing climate.
- Solomon David - Assistant Professor, Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
- Trinity Hamilton - Professor, Plant and Microbial Biology, College of Biological Sciences
- Peter Makovicky - Professor, Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Kieran McNulty (moderator) - Department Head, Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
Note: Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Program starts at 6:15 p.m.
Petri Dish panel discussions explore how biology affects our lives and what it means for our future. No PowerPoints. Just lively, curiosity-driven conversations on timely topics with University of Minnesota experts.
Organized by the University of Minnesota’s College of Biological Sciences in collaboration with the Bell Museum.
Event details
- October 14, 2026
- 6-8 p.m.
- Urban Growler Brewing Co. | 2325 Endicott Street Saint Paul, MN 55114