Science Café - Maya Culture - Mar. 21, 2011

News item published on: 2011-03-16 11:51:20

Dr. Marie Danforth, Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at the University of Southern Mississippi will discuss Maya culture and some recent major findings at the next Science Café Monday, March 21, 2011, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Part of the Nova film, Cracking the Maya Code, will be viewed.

As Mayan inscriptions have been slowly deciphered, it has become clear that this was an empire of divine rule and blood sacrifice, with warrior-kings waging constant battles, conquests, and power struggles with rival lords. Today, the decoders are working with the descendants of the ancient Maya to link their spoken language with the deciphered glyphs, and modern Maya are reclaiming the rich and complicated history that has finally been unlocked.

Held in the Starbucks coffee shop at Cook Library, The Science Café series offers those with minimal or no background in science the chance to meet and discuss scientific issues in layman's terms in a relaxed social setting. A member of the Southern Miss faculty shares his or her expertise at each session with a presentation and short NOVA video. Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information visit http://www.sciencecafes.org or the PBS Nova website, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mayacode/ or contact Tracy Englert at 601.266.6396 or via .