Scientist to speak on Great Basin mammals

Wednesday, March 2, 2005 | 8:46 a.m.

Award-winning University of Washington scientist Donald K. Grayson will talk about the history of mammals, from extinct Ice Age animals that once roamed the Great Basin to endangered pygmy rabbits and pikas living in Nevada today, during a free public lecture next week.

Grayson, an archaeologist and paleoecologist, is to speak at 4 p.m. on March 10 at the Frank H. Rogers Science and Technology Building at the Desert Research Institute, 755 E. Flamingo Road near Swenson Avenue.

Grayson is the winner of Desert Research Institute's 18th annual Nevada Medal, given each year to a scientist with national standing in his or her field. He is the first archaeologist to win the award, which includes a medallion of Nevada silver and a $20,000 honorarium. He will receive the award at a dinner at Caesars Palace on March 10.

Grayson is best known for his research showing that climate change, and not overkill by early human hunters, led to the extinction of large mammals such as the wooly mammoth in North America about 10,000 years ago.

In 1993 Grayson summarized his work in the book, "The Desert's Past: The Natural Prehistory of the Great Basin," published by the Smithsonian Institution Press.

The Desert Research Institute is a nonprofit statewide division of the University and Community College System of Nevada.