FACULTY NEWS continued
Charles Darwin Turns 199!
    George Gilchrist and his wife Katy hosted the first (of what may be annual?) Biology Department Potluck Celebration of Charles Darwin’s Birthday , attended by faculty, staff, and graduate students on what would be the 199th anniversary of Darwin’s birth. Two highlights of the party included the entire group’s singing rendition of “It's a Long Way to Amphioxsis” (learn more about this song) , and the group’s consumption of Darwin’s birthday cake made by faculty pastry chef extraordinaire Liz Allison .
   The delicious four-kinds-of-chocolate cake was decorated with hand-made marzipan finches sporting a diversity of beaks and finch food sources! Dan Cristol provided ornithological expertise to describe the relationship between the food sources and beaks just before the work of art was consumed. A grand time was had by all, and many thanks were given to George and Katy for their generous hospitality!

Liz Allison's four-chocolate cake with custom-made, marzipan Darwin's finches, was delicious! Liz made the finches' beaks the appropriate shape adapted for each species' food source!