Darwin 2009

July 6 – Session I

Introduction: Darwin’s Universal Impact

The speakers will address, in broad terms, Darwin’s impact on culture, history philosophy of science and evolutionary theory. The effects of Darwin on human thought have been both stimulating and controversial.

Chair:Sir David Read (Sheffield, UK)

Speakers:

• Dame Gillian Beer (Cambridge, UK)
• Richard Dawkins (Oxford, UK)

Discussant panel:

• Elliott Sober (Wisconsin, USA)
• Jonathan Hodge (Leeds, UK)
• Ludmilla Jordanova (London, UK)

July 7 – Session II

Health and Society

In this session the speakers will consider race, gender and social behaviour. The Darwinian approach to social science will also be discussed as will the impact of Darwinism of medical practice.

Chair:Matt Ridley

Speakers:

• Sarah Blaffer Hrdy (California, USA)
• Randolph Nesse (Michigan, USA)

Discussant panel:

• Evelyn Fox Keller (MIT, USA)
• Sir Paul Nurse (New York, USA)
• Sir John Sulston (Cambridge, UK)

July 8 – Session III

Human Nature and Belief

Darwin dramatically changed the way that humans think about themselves, their place in the world and their beliefs. This session will consider religion, ethics, politics and science.

Chair: Sarah Coakley (Cambridge, UK)

Speakers:

• Daniel Dennett (Tufts, USA)
• John Hedley Brooke (Oxford, UK)

Discussant panel:

• Philip Kitcher (New York, USA)
• Robert J. Richards (Chicago, USA)
• Steve Jones (London, UK)

July 9 – Session IV

Darwin and Modern Science

Darwinian thinking continues to have a remarkable influence on the conduct of modern science. This sessioin will bring molecular biology and behavioural economics into the spot light.

Chair: Dame Jean Thomas (Cambridge, UK)

Speakers:

• Harold Varmus (New York, USA)
• Herb Gintis (New Mexico, USA/Budapest, Hungary)

Discussant panel:

• Chris Ponting (Oxford, UK)
• Lord John Krebs (Oxford, UK)
• Sir Peter Crane (Chicago, USA)

July 10 – Session V

What Does the Future Hold?

The crisis in biodiversity, the threat of pandemics, the world of genetic manipulation. What does the future hold?

Chair:Sir Brian Heap (Cambridge, UK)

Speakers:

• Lord Martin Rees (Cambridge, UK)
• Sir Brian Hoskins (Reading, UK)

Discussant panel:

• Carl Folke (Sweden)
• Cynthia Kenyon (San Francisco, USA)
• Hubert (Jim) Markl (Konstanz, Germany)
• Lord Robert May (Oxford, UK)