October 23, 2015

Who:
Palomar College Departments of Behavioral Sciences supported by Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) II funds

What:
Exploring Darwin Conference – a series of talks by scientists, researchers, writers, faculty and faculty emeriti from Palomar College, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State San Marcos and UCSD.

When:
Tuesday, November 3, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 4, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

See Schedule of Speakers below

Where:Palomar College
Howard Brubeck Theatre
1140 West Mission Road, San Marcos 92069

Why:
This lecture series is designed to illustrate how Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection applies to a wide range of disciplines in both the natural and social sciences, and to inform students about current research in various fields.

Who is invited:
Everyone – Palomar College students, faculty and staff, and community members.  Attendance
is limited to the capacity of each room.  Palomar College students will be given first priority.

Cost:
Free.

Parking:
Parking with permit is available in Lots 1 and 2. Community members should obtain a parking permit from the Palomar College Police Department. Faculty and staff permits from other colleges will be honored.

Contact:
Philip de Barros, Behavioral Sciences; pdebarros@palomar.edu, 770-744-1150, ext. 2343

 

# # #

Schedule of Speakers

Exploring Darwin
Tuesday and Wednesday, November 3 & 4, 2015
9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Talks will begin at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. each day
Howard Brubeck Theatre (260 Seats)


Tuesday, November 3

9:30 a.m.       CHRISTOPHER WILLS, Div. of Biological Sciences, UCSD;
author of The Runaway Brain
          Expanding the Reach of Evolution: Enhancing Brain Development  

11:00 a.m.     AJIT VARKI, Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Medicine, UCSD; Co-Director, Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA)
Co-Author of Denial: Self-Deception, False Beliefs, and the Origin of the Human Mind

Mind over Reality Theory: A New Explanation for Unusual Features
of Human Evolution

Follow this link to view Ajit Varki’s abstract:
https://www.palomar.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2015/10/VarkiDenialMORTabstract.pdf

12:30 p.m.     NANCY CAINE, Professor of Psychology, California State University
at San Marcos; Secretary General, International Primatological Society

Seeing Snakes

2:00 p.m.       KATERINA SEMENDEFERI, Professor, Departments of Anthropology & Graduate Program in Neurosciences, UCSD

          The Human Brain after the Split from the Last Common Ancestor

Wednesday, November 4

9:30 a.m.       PHILIP DE BARROS, Professor of Anthropology, Palomar College

Is the Earth only 10,000 years old? Radiocarbon Dating Demystified

11:00 a.m.     JAMES ZERBE, California State University at Fullerton

Coalitional Aggression and Cooperation in a Village from
Amazonian Ecuador

12:30 p.m.     JESSICA AYERS, California State University at Fullerton

Women’s Intrasexual Competition: Coordinated Response
or Direct Threat?

2:00 p.m.       THERESA C. VAZQUEZ, Adjunct Professor of Psychology, California State University at San Marcos

Neural Plasticity as an Evolved Trait: Hardwired to Learn

 Faculty members are encouraged to bring their classes or provide extra credit assignments for attending students.  Sign-in sheets will keep track of attending students.

Event Contacts:

Philip de Barros, Behavioral Sciences, pdebarros@palomar.edu, 760-744-1150, ext. 2343
Naomi Lowe, Behavioral Sciences, nlowe@palomar.edu, 760-744-1150, ext. 5058

Media Contacts:

Melinda Finn, Public Affairs, 760-744-1150, ext. 2365, mfinn@palomar.edu
Laura Gropen, Public Affairs, 760-744-1150, ext. 2152, lgropen@palomar.edu
Philip de Barros, Behavioral Sciences,  pdebarros@palomar.edu, 770-744-1150, ext. 2343
Naomi Lowe, Behavioral Sciences, nlowe@palomar.edu, 760-744-1150, ext. 5058