A visiting Harvard researcher said it was both exciting and surprising that more than 450 people showed up last night to hear him speak about the evolution of birds.
''I can't claim to know Dunedin residents well, but yeah, I'm very surprised,'' Harvard evolutionary biologist Prof Scott Edwards said.
''I think it's very exciting to see so many people interested in this topic ... I think we're often besieged with stories of stress and war and whatever else we read in the newspapers, and it's nice sometimes to step back and wonder at some of the amazing feats of the animal world.''
The topic is the ''DNA side of the story'' of dinosaurs evolving into birds, including how birds developed feathers and how birds' genomes relate to dinosaurs'.
Prof Edwards has been touring the country speaking about his research, and said his talks had attracted large, engaged crowds wherever he went - although nowhere as big as in Dunedin.
''I've been very impressed with the sophistication of the questions,'' he said.
''There's a lot of curiosity about how the genome works.''
The professor was aware of an ongoing discussion about research into native animals and whether research on New Zealand native species should necessarily involve Kiwi scientists and iwi. He said collaborating with local researchers was ''really important''.
''I don't necessarily believe that different people can own the genetic resources of their country. That said, New Zealanders are certainly the ones to call the shots on who can gain access to the resources ... but I think through collaborations, we can make sure everyone gets to participate,'' he said.
''I do think science, in general, in its best form, is international and highly collaborative.''
The Allan Wilson Centre, which is facing closure after losing $4.5 million in annual government funding, is hosting Prof Edwards in New Zealand. Prof Edwards said it was ''a shame their funding is ending''.
''I hope the funding agencies in New Zealand can consider the importance of basic science, especially when it comes to biodiversity,'' he said.
''New Zealanders [have] demonstrated over and over again that they can produce the highest quality science, so it's really a matter of giving them a chance to do that.''
