Coastal Carolina University science professor John Hutchens, recipient of this year's HTC Distinguished Teacher Scholar Lecturer Award, will speak on the topic "Prey Capture by a Local Charismatic Species: The Venus Flytrap" on Tuesday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the James J. Johnson Auditorium. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Hutchens, a professor in CCU's Department of Biology, has collaborated with biology professor James Luken since 2006 on research examining prey capture of the carnivorous Venus flytrap. Flytraps only live in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina, creating a unique opportunity for study by CCU faculty and students.

Hutchens joined the CCU faculty in 2002. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in biology from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Georgia. He conducted stream ecology research at the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth, Minn. An aquatic ecologist, Hutchens worked as a research biologist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

At Coastal Carolina, Hutchens has studied invertebrates and ecosystem processes in local streams, wetlands and adjacent terrestrial habitats. He has served as the major adviser for eight graduates of the Master of Science in coastal marine and wetland studies program.

Six CCU undergraduates have conducted their honors thesis research studying Venus flytraps with Hutchens.

The intent of the HTC Distinguished Teacher-Scholar Lecture Series is to recognize annually a CCU faculty member who has distinguished himself or herself as a teacher, scholar and communicator.The University established the award in 1996 in conjunction with Horry Telephone Cooperative. Previous award-winners include professors Robert Young and Pamela Martin.

The Johnson Auditorium is located in Room 116 of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration, located at 119 Chanticleer Drive E. on the main Conway campus. For more information, call the Office of the Provost at 843-239-2086.