Jessica Lynch Alfaro – Comparative Phylogenomics, Biogeography and Conservation of Neotropical Primates

Jessica Lynch Alfaro: UCLANeotropical primates represent one of the most successful mammalian radiations in the Neotropics, and all living platyrrhine monkeys in Central and South America stem from a single common ancestor from about 22 Ma. Neotropical primates exhibit extreme morphological and behavioral diversity, from the tiny pygmy marmoset to the ape-like muriqui, and they […]

Peter Sozou – Discounting the future: an evolutionary approach to ageing and time-preference behaviour

Peter Sozou: London School of EconomicsDiscounting occurs when an immediate benefit is systematically valued more highly than a delayed benefit. This talk is concerned with understanding both the causes and effects of discounting from an evolutionary point of view, as reflected in physiological and behavioural strategies of organisms. I'll start by looking at the evolutionary […]

Jared Diamond – Environmental fragility: What was special about Easter Island?

Jared Diamond: UCLA Dept. of GeographySome societies have suffered environmental collapses in the past (Easter Island, Angkor Wat, Anasazi, Classic Maya…), while others have remained intact for thousands of years (Japan, Northwest Europe, Java, Tikopia…). Some countries are close to collapse today, while others are not. What makes some societies more fragile than others? Authors […]