Dean’s Scholars annually hosts the Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS), a campus-wide lecture that invites outstanding individuals to speak at the university on unique and relevant science topics. Our past speakers include Nobel Laureates, a National Medal of Science recipient, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Some of the key goals of this lecture series are to give undergraduates an opportunity to meet renowned figures in the scientific community, to engage students beyond the College of Natural Sciences, and to foster scientific curiosity in the broader Austin area, particularly among high school students.

Lecture

Date: October 21
Room: WEL 1.308
Time: 5-6 PM

A proper study for mankind: understanding the human condition through the lens of other primates

Our experiences in early life and our social connections throughout life strongly predict our health and our lifespans. Work in the last few decades reveals that similar patterns govern the lives of our closest living relatives, the non-human primates. These studies suggest that the social determinants of health in humans have deep evolutionary roots. In this lecture, I will draw on our work on other animals, both in the lab and in the wild, to put our own species in context. I will review the strong evidence that early adversity, social status, and affiliative ties in adulthood are central to life outcomes, suggesting that observations in humans are not an artifact of the modern human environment. I will discuss possible pathways that connect early life to later life outcomes, including work we have done to connect social interactions with changes going on “under the skin.” Finally, I will highlight what studies of other primates are teaching us about the potential for resilience in the face of adversity.

Lecture Details