Newswise — Christopher BoehmHuman evolution expert and co-director of USC Jane Goodall Research CenterSpecializes in the evolution of morality. Boehm, who has researched moral evolution for decades, believes conscience may be what separates humans from other species. He will present a new theory of conscience at the AAAS Annual Meeting in Chicago on Feb. 16.
Craig StanfordPrimatologist and co-director of USC Jane Goodall Research CenterRenowned expert on apes and human evolution, and author of "Significant Others: The Ape-Human Continuum and the Quest for Human Nature," Stanford believes Darwin's work is one of the most time-tested and seminal pieces of scholarship in the history of science. In April, Stanford will host an expert panel on evolution to mark the Darwin bicentennial.
Steven FinkelEvolutionary biologist, USC CollegeAn expert on natural selection, Finkel can discuss the latest findings in this field. He specializes in microbial and bacterial evolution, which serves as an important model because many of the mechanisms that underlie natural selection are conserved from microbes to humans.
Randy OlsonFilmmaker and marine biologist, USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental StudiesA marine biologist turned filmmaker after attending film school at USC, Olson is best known for his 2006 satire of the evolutionist-creationist battles, "Flock of Dodos: the Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus." Author of the upcoming book "Don't Be Such a Scientist," Olson can also discuss the communication gap between scientists and the public.
Werner DappenProfessor of physics and astronomy, USC CollegeA theorist studying the structure and evolution of the Sun and stars, Dappen can comment on the scientific dispute between Darwin and Kelvin on the Age of the Sun and the Earth.
Michael GilbertSenior Fellow, USC Center for the Digital FutureAuthor of "The Disposable Male: Sex, Love and Money - Your World through Darwin's Eyes," Gilbert offers a unique perspective on contemporary relationships, family and workplace issues rooted in our natural history and genetic heritage. Can comment on Valentine's Day and Darwin's influence.
Philippa LevineProfessor of History, USC CollegeAuthor of a forthcoming book about the cultural, political and religious debates that have swirled around the theory of evolution, based on research supported by a Guggenheim fellowship, Levine teaches a course titled "Darwin, the Dinosaurs, and DNA." She is an expert in the history of science, culture, race and sexuality.
Amy ParishLecturer of Anthropology, USC CollegeA Darwinian feminist and bonobo expert who uses an evolutionary approach to shed light on human behavior, Parish spans the fields of gender studies, family therapy, journalism and medicine. She can comment on Darwin's continued influence on our understanding of humans and their ancestors.
USC Event Series: "The Darwin Revolution, 1859-2159"A series of discussions, screenings, tours and lecturesWhere do ideas come from, and how far do they travel? One hundred and fifty years ago, the astonishing year of 1859 saw not only the publication of Charles Darwin's "The Origin of Species," but such pioneering works such as John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty," Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities," Karl Marx's "Critique of Political Economy," and Richard Wagner's first version of "Tristan and Isolde." Can we imagine the world 150 years from now, and imagine the place our ideas will have in it?
Scholars from biology, anthropology, physics, literature, history, and gender studies, as well as poets and artists, will explore these questions together this spring. Go to http://college.usc.edu/tcc for details.
RSS