Modern humans lie at the tip of a twig that belongs to a small branch on a large Tree of Life. Yet, the recovery of the evolutionary history of that twig is the focus of a disproportionate amount of attention, from both scientists and members of the public. Sometimes it seems that scientists involved in the recovery of human evolutionary history share little common ground but in reality the gaps that separate scientists are miniscule when compared to the intellectual chasm that separates scientists and creationists. In order to promote public understanding of science paleoanthropologists need to devote time and energy to collaborating with those perceived to be their scientific foes; this will demonstrate to the public that scientific disagreements about human evolutionary history pale into insignificance when compared to their agreement. Interpretative disagreements are inevitable within science and are especially likely within a historical science like paleoanthropology. The costs of ignoring these misconceptions about legitimate scientific debate are higher than a free and educated society can afford. This lecture will summarize some of the latest developments in human evolution, but it will focus on why experts can look at the same fossil evidence and come to different, legitimate, conclusions.

Coverage:

• Read a brief summary

• Keynote presentation by Bernard Wood, with introduction by Connie Bertka

  Audio and Video

• Responding presentation by Kevin Fitzgerald, with introduction by Connie Bertka

  Audio and Video

• Discussion Period

  Audio and Video

Lecturer

• Bernard Wood, Henry R. Luce Professor of Human Origins, George Washington University

Respondent

• Kevin FitzGerald, Dr. David Lauler Chair in Catholic Heath Care Ethics, Georgetown University