TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - A University of Idaho gerontologist and zoologist will present “The 150 Year-Old Human: How Soon? How Desirable?” as the sixth annual William Darden Lecture, Thursday, March 27, at 7 p.m. in room 127 of the Biology Building at The University of Alabama.

Dr. Steven N. Austad, professor in the University of Idaho’s department of biological sciences, is the author of "Why We Age: What Science is Discovering about the Body's Journey through Life.” His book has received critical acclaim and vigorous debate by both the scientific community and popular news media. According to Austad, solving the aging puzzle starts with studying organisms that are good at aging and then figuring out how they do it so well.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by UA’s department of biological sciences and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Science Program Award.

Darden, professor emeritus of biological sciences and long-time chair of the department in UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, completed 31 years of service to UA. Mrs. Ilouise Hill established the lecture in his honor.