Dr. Svetlozara Kazandzhieva from the National Museum of Natural History at BAS shared some little-known facts about animals that support Darwin’s theory of evolution in the first of a series of popular science lectures taking place from today until 29 July at the Central Market Hall or simply popularly known as “Central Halls”. The researchers’ presentations on the animal world are aimed at children of various ages but are also of interest to their parents. They form part of the partnership between the National Museum of Natural History and the Central Halls.
In her lecture ‘Strange Animals and Great Mysteries – Fact or Fiction’, Dr. Kazandzhieva introduced the coelacanth, a fish that scientists had long believed to be extinct. She also told the audience about the discovery, some 200 years ago, of the first lungfish which proved the theory that life had evolved from water to land. Among the animals presented was the platypus, which combined features of several different groups of vertebrates. Dr. Kazandzhieva also devoted part of her lecture to mysterious creatures such as dragons, the Loch Ness Monster and the Yeti which people have been telling stories about for centuries.
Dr Kazandzhieva’s research interests lie in the fields of taxonomy, biodiversity and the distribution of fungus gnats, faunistic studies, the conservation and ecology of invertebrates, tropical ecosystems and molecular methods in taxonomy.
Dr. Kazandzhieva will deliver her lecture also tomorrow on stage at the Central Halls, and on 29 July, Dr. Violeta Zhelyazkova from the National Museum of Natural History will explain how bats are similar to and different from humans.
