Jared Diamond Lecture and Award Ceremony Monday, March 26 McConomy Auditorium, University… Jared Diamond Lecture and Award Ceremony Monday, March 26 McConomy Auditorium, University Center, CMU, 4:30 p.m. Free and open to the public (412) 268-5052

On Monday, Pulitzer-prize winning author and professor, Jared Diamond, will be accepting the 2006 Dickson Prize in Science at the McConomy Auditorium in Carnegie Mellon University’s University Center.

Diamond teaches geography at UCLA while simultaneously pursuing his study of ecology and evolution. His 1999 book, “Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies,” won him the Pulitzer.

Diamond’s most recent book, “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed,” explores the collapse of societies over the course of history. In a case study of a Polynesian society in Easter Island circa A.D. 300 to 400. Diamond presents social, psychological, religious and other theories to explain what may have caused the native who cut down the last tree on the island to not think twice about it.

There will be a book signing preceding the lecture in the McKenna Room of the University Center from 3:30 to 4 p.m. The award ceremony and lecture will take place one floor down at 4:30, where Diamond will discuss the collapse of societies. A reception in Rangos Hall will follow immediately after the lecture.