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College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Ecology & Evolution
Department of Ecology and EvolutionColloquium and EventsDarwin Day

Darwin Day Speaker, Feb 12th, 2026

Celebrate Darwin Day with Lead Scientist & Program Manager Ben Novak

Talk Title: "Passenger Pigeon De-extinction: the Revolution of America's Forest Engin eering bird"


Headshot for Ben Novak

Celebrate Darwin Day 2026 with Ben Novak

We are honored to welcome Ben Novak, Lead Scientist at Revive & Restore, as our distinguished guest speaker for Darwin Day 2026. A pioneer in the field of genetic rescue and de-extinction, Novak is at the forefront of using 21st-century biotechnology to restore lost biodiversity.

His groundbreaking work focuses on the intersection of paleogenomics and ecology, specifically the ambitious mission to bring the passenger pigeon back from extinction. By bridging the gap between historical DNA and modern conservation, Novak’s research explores how we can "re-evolve" species to restore the health of North America’s forest ecosystems.

  • When: Thursday, February 12th, 2026
  • Where: Union Auditorium
  • Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
  • Talk Title:"Passenger Pigeon De-extinction: The Re-evolution of America's Forest Engineering Bird"

Presented in collaboration with Ecology & Evolution (E&E) and  the Collaboarative for the Earth (C4E), Novak’s insights into genomic engineering and the future of evolutionary biology promise to be both enlightening and thought-provoking. Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to learn from a leading authority on the future of de-extinction!

Discover More

To learn more about Ben Novak’s research, click on the links below: