Lucy Lives: A Novel Look At Early Human Evolution by Mark A. Weaver

CELEBRATING LUCY

Dr. Donald C. Johanson found Lucy’s fossilized skeleton on November 24, 1974. He founded the Institute of Human Origins, a paleoanthropological research center, in 1981. Since 1997, the IHO has been located at Arizona State University in Tempe, forming an academic department within the university’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change, as well as continuing its research and field discovery missions. 

On February 12 (Darwin Day), 2015, the Institute of Human Origins hosted a 40th Anniversary Celebration of Lucy’s discovery. The event was held at the Tempe Center for the Arts, and Mark Weaver, author of “Lucy Lives: A Novel Look At Early Human Evolution,” had the great pleasure of attending. 

Earlier in the day, Julie Russ, the Institute’s gracious Communications Director, gave Mark and his friend and travelling companion Paul Tucker a wonderful tour of the IHO’s department, located in the Social Sciences building on the sprawling ASU campus. While there, they glimpsed the Institute’s fossil collections, library, and research facilities, and even got to meet Dr. Johanson.

The celebration began with an exclusive reception, and Mark had the opportunity to speak to Dr. Johanson at greater length, and present him with a bound manuscript of Lucy Lives. The great paleoanthropologist actually asked Mark to sign it for him, and agreed to consider writing a forward to the book for its print release. After the reception, Professor Johanson gave an hour and a half lecture on what Lucy has meant to him, the field of paleoanthropology, and the world at large. The night was truly a high point in the author’s life.

40th Anniversary Celebration of Lucy's Discovery

February 12, 2015, Tempe Center for the Arts.

The author and Dr. Johanson with Lucy Lives.