The Ohio State University at Marion invites the community to Maynard Hall's Guthery Community Room for a free monthly community dialogue on science called, Science Café, Tuesday, April 1, 7 p.m.

This event is traditionally held at an off campus location, but due to unforeseen circumstances was moved on campus for the month of April. April's Science Café welcomes Dr. Jeffrey McKee, Department of Anthropology at The Ohio State University. Dr. McKee will hold an open discussion entitled, Human Origins in Southern Africa.

During this Science Café, McKee will show some of the fossil clues that led to the discovery of early human origins in southern Africa. From 1987 to 1994, Dr. McKee led an excavation at Taung, which in 1924 became the first fossil site to point to human origins in Africa. Since then he has directed research at Makapansgat, an older fossil site that also has remains of our distant predecessors. From the fossil site of Taung, at the edge of South Africa's Kalahari Desert, to the rich sub-tropical forest of ancient Makapansgat, McKee will discuss how our remote ancestors adapted to a variety of environments, ultimately leading to the emergence of the most adaptable mammal: Homo sapiens.

Science Cafés take place worldwide. Ohio State Marion's Science Café is one of only two in the state of Ohio. The other is hosted by Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Science Café is a free monthly event, which involves lively conversation with a scientist about current science topics.