When KU unveils its "Tree of Life" project on Friday, it will mark the culmination of a two-year, multidisciplinary project designed to depict evolutionary theory in an artistic way.

"I don't think KU has ever produced anything quite so grand," says Staniunas, who is the stage director of the show.

"Tree of Life" is the result of the Creative Campus project at KU, which began about two years ago. It was made possible in part by a grant from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Creative Campus Innovations Grant Program.

But when asked if he worried that artists might water down scientific principles, he [Haufler] responded: "I think that would be fabulous if they did."

"I've been involved in scientific literacy elements during my career," Haufler says. "We need to be trying to help the public understand what us egghead scientists are studying every day. The more esoteric we become, the more disconnected we become from the public."

And that, he says, helps feed the disconnect between people who don't believe in evolutionary theory - as evidenced in culture wars between those who oppose teaching evolution in schools, and those who do - and the scientists who make it a living.

"I hope (audiences) get a better appreciation of the science as much as possible," Haufler says. "We should be opening their minds for thinking about the science and place it into the context with the other elements of their lives. And if we accomplish that, good. Maybe we won't do it for everybody there. But at this point in the life of our science, any opportunity to take advantage of the opening of the door can't be missed."