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SUMMARY:Understanding Humans - Serendipity and Anthropology - Professor Ri
 chard Leakey\, Stony Brook University
DTSTART:20080307T173000Z
DTEND:20080307T183000Z
UID:TALK8739@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Janet Gibson
DESCRIPTION:There is much that we do know about the human as a consequence
  of our curiosity about ourselves.  The fossil record\, the archaeological
  record and the broad fields of social and cultural studies give an insigh
 t about our species that is fairly comprehensive.  One thing is clear and 
 that is that there was and is no “inevitability” to our being now or a
 t any time\, past\, present and future.  From the perspective of origins\,
  serendipity is evident and in this era of renewed religious fundamentalis
 m\, we must promote the scientific understanding of humans far more than h
 as been the practice in recent times.  The prehistory of humanity is an ex
 cellent starting point where serendipity rather than design has been so cr
 itical.\n\nBiography\n\nRichard Leakey has been responsible for some of th
 e most significant discoveries in the study of human origins and evolution
 \, carrying out research and excavation projects in east Africa throughout
  the 1960s\, ’70s and ’80s. Throughout this time he became increasingl
 y active in conservation and politics in Kenya\, and since the 1990s these
  have been his main focus. He has been Director of the National Museums of
  Kenya\, Director of Kenya Wildlife Service\, Permanent Secretary\, Secret
 ary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service of Kenya\, and is involve
 d with the managerial boards of over thirty organisations. He has received
  thirteen international awards for his various works\, and Honorary Doctor
 ates from eleven universities. His academic activities are currently focus
 ed around the Chairmanship of the Turkana Basin Institute and a Professors
 hip of Anthropology at the State University of New York\, Stony Brook.
LOCATION:LMH\, Lady Mitchell Hall
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