Connections between evolution and culture, new lecture series from B·Debate and CCCB

Charles Darwin’s 1859 theory of evolution was revolutionary, transforming biology and our understanding of nature forever. Today, Darwinism sees the evolution of the human species as being not only biologically but also culturally based.

In order to discuss the idea that humanity is constructed through a combination of biology and culture, B·Debate —an initiative of Biocat and the “la Caixa” Foundation— and the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) are holding a lecture series entitled Evolution and Culture: Human nature in transformation from 19 October to 11 November 2013 at the CCCB. These debates are open to the general public.

Saturday 19 October at 7:30 pm
Risk and danger: What can we learn from traditional societies
Jared Diamond, biologist, physiologist and biogeographer, author of The World until Yesterday (Viking, 2013)
Moderator: Joandomènec Ros, professor of Ecology at the University of Barcelona and president of the Institute for Catalan Studies

Monday 28 October at 7:30 pm
We the Africans: Eight points to remember about human diversity
Guido Barbujani, professor of Genetics and Population Genetics in the University of Ferrara Life Sciences and Biotechnology Department
Moderator: Cristina Junyent, director of the Science in Society Foundation

Monday 4 November at 7:30 pm
Natural selection in humans: Past, present and future
Jaume Bertranpetit, professor of Biology at Pompeu Fabra University
Moderator: Montserrat Vendrell, CEO of Biocat

Monday 11 November at 7:30 pm
Homo sapiens: An unknown species
Juan-Luis Arsuaga, director of the Center for Research on Human Evolution and Behavior at the Complutense University of Madrid-Institute of Health Carlos III and co-director of the Atapuerca team
Moderator: Núria Sebastián, professor of Psychology in the Pompeu Fabra University Department of Information and Communication Technology

Program

Date: 19 October to 11 November 2013
Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: CCCB • C/ Montalegre, 5 • Barcelona (map)

Advanced ticket sales at the CCCB box office and through Telentrada (902 101 212 and www.telentrada.com). Admission fee: €3. Friends of the CCCB, unemployed and under 12s: free. Simultaneous translation into Catalan available.

Organizers:

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