University of Arizona’s Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department marks 50 years with symposium

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona will celebrate its 50th anniversary this month with a symposium bringing together scientists, alumni, and students to reflect on the field’s past and discuss its future.  

 Founded in 1975, the department was one of the first in the world organized explicitly around ecology and evolutionary biology. Over the past five decades, it has helped shape modern biological research by integrating approaches that span from genetics to ecosystems.  

 The anniversary symposium, which will be hosted from March 29-31 in the Environment and Natural Resources 2 Building (ENR2) on campus, will feature faculty presentations, invited speakers, student poster sessions and a free keynote lecture open to the campus and Tucson community.  

 “This isn’t just about looking backward,” said Dr. Judie Bronstein, a University Distinguished Professor in the department. “We wanted it to focus on the future, asking what we’ve learned and what questions we should be asking next.”  

 The event will bring together current faculty, alumni and leading international figures in ecology, evolution, and behavior to examine how the field has evolved and where it is headed as scientists confront challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change and ecosystem disruption.  

Breaking down traditional boundaries in biology  

When the department was created in the 1970s, the decision to merge ecology and evolution under one program represented a shift in how biology was organized.  

Previously universities often separated biological sciences by the organism researchers studied, plants in botany departments and animals in zoology programs.  

“Many complex biological questions couldn’t be answered by separating people according to the organism they study,” said Dr. Brian Enquist, a professor in the department. “The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department was built around a more synthetic approach.”  

That approach allowed researchers to explore how biological diversity emerges and how ecosystems function. Today, the department’s work spans multiple scales from microbial communities to global ecological patterns.  

Over time, faculty expanded research in two directions: studying global ecosystem processes while also exploring microbial ecology and evolution.  

“Those scales aren’t separate,” Bronstein said. “Understanding biology means understanding how processes connect from microbes all the way up to ecosystems." 

Department leadership reflects on milestone 

For department leaders, the 50th anniversary represents both a reflection on the past and an opportunity to strengthen the community moving forward.

“This is a time to look back, then look forward,” said Dr. Michael Worobey, head of the department of EEB. “It’s a chance to connect, and connect with, the people who are part of the EEB community, whether for half a century or half a year.” 

Worobey said the celebration is not just about scientific achievements, but also the people behind them. 

“Science, believe it or not, is a highly social undertaking,” he said. “This will be a time to celebrate not just science, but scientists." 

Looking ahead Worobey said the future of ecology and evolutionary biology is especially promising as discoveries continue to build on one another. 

“What I find really exciting about our future is a continued tradition of research findings, profound in their own right, that will become even more than the sum of their parts,” he said. “They will weave themselves together in ways that only time will tell into an ever-brighter tapestry of how life and the environment on our planet truly work.”

Worobey also pointed to the growing importance of applying research to real-world challenges.

“I also look forward to the translational discoveries we are making, tools that will help solve some of the biggest challenges facing the world, from climate change, to preventable death, loss and suffering in the human population and in other species we share the Earth with,” he said. 

A field with growing urgency  

Bronstein, Enquist and Worobey agree that the work done in ecology and evolutionary biology has become increasingly relevant as the world faces environmental change.  

 “Many of the biggest challenges facing society are biological in nature,” Enquist said. “Understanding climate change, disease dynamics, biodiversity and ecosystem productivity all requires a deep understanding of biology.”  

 Ecology and evolutionary biology focus on synthesis, bringing together insights from multiple scientific disciplines to better understand how living systems function. 

 “That kind of integrated thinking is essential for solving complex global problems,” Enquist said.  

 “It’s also important to recognize that humans are part of ecological systems,” Bronstein said. “We affect those systems, and they affect us.”  

Bringing science to a broader audience  

A central goal of the anniversary symposium is to connect specialized scientific research with the public.  

Organizers asked speakers to present ideas in ways that are accessible beyond their research fields.  

The event’s keynote speaker, Dr. Sean B. Carroll , distinguished professor at the University of Maryland, is known for translating complex scientific ideas for broader audiences.  

Carroll will be presenting a public lecture titled, “More Awe and Wonder for Everyone: The Emotions That Fuel Scientific Curiosity and Inspire Us All” on Monday March 31 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at ENR2 in room S107.

Graduate and undergraduate students will also play a major role in the celebration through research poster sessions and event organization.   

Training the next generation of scientists   

The department, which is a top ranked program nationally, continues to grow as interest in biology and environmental science increases.  

 The University of Arizona’s online Bachelor of Science in biology program was recently ranked the No. 1 online biology degree in the country by Forbes, reflecting the increasing demand for training in the life sciences.  

Students in the department benefit from hands-on research opportunities connected to the surrounding Sonoran Desert landscape.  

“For ecologists and biologists, the Sonoran Desert is a spectacular place to work and study,” Enquist said.  

Researchers frequently collaborate across campus with programs such as the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, geosciences and other interdisciplinary fields.  

Looking ahead  

As the department marks its 50th year, faculty say the celebration is less about honoring past achievements and more about preparing for the next phase of research.  

“We want to use this moment strategically,” Bronstein said. “Where have we been, and where should we go next?” 

Over five decades, the department has trained scientists who now lead research programs, conservation organizations, and academic departments around the world.  

“Our alumni have gone on to make major contributions to ecology, evolution and conservation,” Enquist said. “The impact of the department continues to ripple outward.”  

To view the symposium schedule click here and to RSVP to the free event click here.