Welcome to the tremendous, amazing, Big Asheville Science Salon!
Our mission: Cultivate curiosity and build community by sharing the coolest, grooviest, and fascinating-ist scientific discoveries. And have a beer (or wine or soda).
How it do: Each month, a bona fide expert takes us on a thrill ride of science awesomeness (i.e., talk about their research and probably show pretty pictures). Afterwards, a lively Q&A segues into general mingling and chatting about why science is so cool.
When: First Wednesday of each month.
Doors: 6:00pm; Presentation: 7:00pm; Socializing: 8:00pm
Where: The Mule (at Devil’s Foot Beverage) 131 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
No cover charge – just bring your brain!
April: A History of Violence? Unboxing the Human Condition
That poster of Gandhi over your sink is admirable, but it’s hard to deny that violence is a feature of human society. So, what does this tell us about the “human condition”? Philosopher Thomas Hobbes suggested our natural state is “solitary, poore, nasty, [and] brutish.” Rousseau took a more optimistic view, believing we are born “gentle” and then “corrupted” by society. Most succinctly, Mike Tyson opined that “Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the mouth.”
But what does science tell us? The ubiquity of violence suggests it might have played a central role in our species’ evolution. Important: knowing where we come from does not justify acting like a degenerate asshat. Understanding the natural forces that have shaped us, however, can help us develop educational and therapeutic tools to nurture our better angels.
At our April salon, drop in to see what condition our condition is in. Evolutionary biologist Dr. Jeremy Morris will explore anatomical features of humans (and other species) that likely evolved as adaptations to aggressive behavior. A professor at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Jeremy’s research focuses on the evolution of aggression and anatomical variation in relation to performance. He is also passionate about public engagement, working to bring science and conservation projects to audiences in prisons, museums, and schools (and salons!). Dr. Morris is not now and has never been a member of a fight club, preferring to spend his limited free time engaged in trail running, climbing, skiing, and other well-mannered pursuits.