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Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia Oct. 21 at Noon

Join us Friday, Oct. 21 for “Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia,” a presentation by Brian Bonnyman, MD, from the Blount Memorial Physician Group. The presentation begins at noon on Zoom.

Who first settled the islands of the remote Pacific, where did they come from, how did they get there, and how do we know?  Physician and scholar Brian Bonnyman uses Christina Thompson’s recent book Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia and other sources to tell that story.  How did a people without writing or metal tools conquer the largest ocean in the world to settle islands in the Pacific from Hawaii to New Zealand to Easter Island? 

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

 

Register today for the Oct. 21 Science Forum. 

About Brian Bonnyman

Brian Bonnyman grew up in Knoxville, earned a degree in civil engineering from Princeton, then an MD at Emory.

He returned to Knoxville and entered practice in family medicine.  After 15 years, he taught himself Spanish and became a physician for a community health center serving all people regardless of their ability to pay.  After more than a decade, he joined the Blount Memorial Physician Group and led the outpatient covid diagnosis and treatment programs for Blount Memorial Hospital from March 2020 to August 2022.

He plans to practice in New Zealand for a year starting next month. 

About the Science Forum

Started in 1933, the UT Science Forum is one of the oldest UT organizations. Its purpose? To share the latest scientific research with the public.

Nearly 90 years later, the UT Science Forum provides an excellent opportunity for students, UT professors and the general public to learn about cutting-edge research at UT, ORNL, and other local facilities.

Join Us Friday Oct. 21 at Noon via Zoom

Join us Fridays at noon for an opportunity to discuss the latest scientific research with distinguished professors and researchers. Presentations are 40 minutes and designed for the general public. A question-and-answer session follows each presentation.

For the health and safety of our campus and Knoxville community, we will host all spring 2022 Science Forum lectures on Zoom. Visit the Zoom Help Center to learn more about setting up an account and joining a meeting.