How did an upright ape conquer the world and all its rivals? Discoveries made over the past few years are re-writing the story of human evolution – and it is far more intriguing than we ever imagined.
Come to our one-day masterclass and let six leading experts guide you through one of today’s most exciting fields of science. Your host will be New Scientist Features Editor Kate Douglas.
Speakers:
- Chris Stringer, merit researcher at the Natural History Museum
- Maria Martinon-Torres, lecturer in paleoanthropology at University College London
- Andrea Manica, university reader in evolutionary ecology at the University of Cambridge
- Mark Pagel, professor and head of the evolutionary biology group at the University of Reading
- Penny Spikins, senior lecturer in the archaeology of human origins at the University of York
- Plus, one more leading expert to be announced
- Hosted by Kate Douglas, New Scientist features editor
Overview:
Once upon a time, the story of our species’ evolution was simple. It was the tale of a short, hairy, chimp-like creature living in Africa that gradually, over millions of years, transformed to become human. Now we know it’s more interesting than that. Our ancestors were just one of many pre-human species living across a wide swath of the globe from South Africa to the Far East. The ebb and flow of these ancient hominins saw them intermingling and sometimes interbreeding. Yet today we alone remain.
A succession of spectacular fossil finds in recent years is starting to reveal our true family tree. Some of the new species are upending what we thought be knew about the evolution of key traits such as bipedalism and brain expansion. Studies of ancient DNA allow us to see how different species are related and to track their migration across continents. We have even uncovered some pre-human genes in our own genome, revealing that many of us are related to Neanderthals and the mysterious Eurasian pre-humans called Denisovans.
How did we get to be the dominant ape? Many mysteries remain, but there’s no doubt that our ancestors had some special qualities that gave them the edge. One is language. We’ll explore it origins and development – and how it led to a cultural revolution. Then there are the opposing forces of cooperation and competition, which have played a huge role in shaping our interactions and our unique lifestyle. Above all, what sets us apart is the human brain, distinguished by its size and diversity. We can see the growth of this beautiful mind in the fossil record but we can also trace its emergence through the art and artefacts of prehistory.
There has never been a more exciting time to explore human evolution. Join our speakers on a journey to explore our origins and it will transform the way you see yourself.
Topics covered will include:
- The discoveries that are re-writing the story of our origins
- What our early ancestors were doing in Eurasia
- How our species conquered the world and its rivals
- How language evolved and sparked a revolution
- What’s so special about the human mind
- And much more
Who should attend?
Anyone interested in discovering how we became human, whatever your age or background. Whether you’re a scientist, a student or simply a fascinated human being, Instant Expert: The Evolution of Humans offers the chance to learn directly from the experts at our one-day masterclass.
What’s included in your ticket:
- In-depth and engaging talks from 6 leading experts
- Ask-an-expert Question Time session
- Your chance to meet our six speakers and host Kate Douglas
- Buffet lunch, plus morning and afternoon refreshments
- Exclusive Instant Expert certificate
- Exclusive on-the-day New Scientist subscription deal, book and merchandise offers