The Orion Township Public Library is pleased to host the traveling exhibition, Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?, which will be open to the public from July 30-August 22, 2016. The exhibition provides a fascinating glimpse into the complex field of human evolution research, and is based on a popular exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. We are proud to be chosen as one of 19 sites nationwide to host this exhibit. We would like to invite you to the Exhibit Opening and Evening of Science which will begin at 7:00pm on Saturday, August 6th. Dr. Rick Potts, Smithsonian paleoanthropologist and curator of the Exploring Human Origins traveling exhibit, will be the guest speaker. He will explore the main themes of the traveling exhibit; how fossils, archeological remains, and genetic studies shed light on our connection with the natural world. For a full schedule of events, go to www.orionlibrary.org<http://www.orionlibrary.org> Among other programs planned is an Educator Workshop for classroom teachers; science, nature center, and museum educators; homeschoolers on August 8th at 10:00a. Dr. Briana Pobiner, who leads the Human Origins Program's education and outreach efforts, and Dr. Rick Potts, the exhibition curator and director of the NMNH Human Origins Program, will present a training on human evolution for science educators. The workshop will feature exploration and hands-on practice in presenting the Human Origins Program resources provided for each community. These resources include a set of five early human skull casts; classroom-tested, high-school Biology teaching supplements on "What Does It Mean to Be Human?", and a teacher resource on cultural and religious sensitivity strategies. Please register at http://orionlib.evanced.info/eventcalendar.asp You will find additional information attached. Please come visit the exhibit, attend one of the related programs, and/or post any of the attached flyers in your libraries. Thank you, Beth The exhibition is offered by ALA's Public Programs Office<http://www.ala.org/offices/ppo> in collaboration with the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History Human Origins Program<http://humanorigins.si.edu/>. It is made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation<http://templeton.org/> and support from the Peter Buck Human Origins Fund. The traveling exhibition is based on the Smithsonian's What Does It Mean to Be Human?, which opened in 2010; over 20 million people have visited the Hall of Human Origins exhibition since its opening. Beth Sheridan Head of Adult Services The Orion Township Public Library 825 Joslyn Rd. Lake Orion, MI 48360 (248) 693-3000 ext 332