Daily Archives: January 17, 2017

Tuesday, January 31, 7:00 pm – Future Humans

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Come to a thought provoking talk and book signing on Tuesday, January 31 at 7 pm at Porter Square Books, 25 White Street in Cambridge. Are humans still subject to the forces of evolution? An evolutionary biologist provides surprising insights into the future of Homo sapiens.

In his intriguing book Future Humans: Inside the Science of Our Continuing Evolution, evolutionary biologist Scott Solomon draws on the explosion of discoveries in recent years to examine the future evolution of our species. Combining knowledge of our past with current trends, Solomon offers convincing evidence that evolutionary forces still affect us today. But how will modernization, including longer lifespans, changing diets, global travel, and widespread use of medicine and contraceptives, affect our evolutionary future?

Solomon presents an entertaining and accessible review of the latest research on human evolution in modern times, drawing on fields from genomics to medicine and the study of our microbiome. Surprising insights, on topics ranging from the rise of online dating and Cesarean sections to the spread of diseases such as HIV and Ebola, suggest that we are entering a new phase in human evolutionary history one that makes the future less predictable and more interesting than ever before.

Scott Solomon is an evolutionary biologist and science writer. He teaches ecology, evolutionary biology, and scientific communication at Rice University, where he is a Professor in the Practice in the Department of BioSciences.

Tuesdays, February 7 – March 21, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Residential Landscape Design

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This New England Wild Flower Society multi-session course, appropriate for beginners, tackles the different aspects of the landscape design process. Workshop sessions will focus on design methods using site analysis techniques and schematic design tools. You will consult with the instructor and work on a project of your own choosing. Discussions about plants and habitat will be interspersed with lectures on design principles, including criteria for making plant choices and determining placement in the landscape. A list of required materials will be provided at the first class. Karen Sebastian leads the classes, which take place Tuesdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14, and 21 from 6 – 8 at Garden in the Woods in Framingham. $215 for NEWFS members, $254 for nonmembers. Register online at www.newfs.org.  Image from www.bostondesignguide.com.