Are Humans Special?

The year 2009 will be marked by the launch of the Darwin Now project, which will celebrate the birth of Charles Darwin in 1809, his evolutionary ideas and how they still impact on our lives, as well as the publication of “The Origens of the Species”. We have already started celebrating he 150 years of Charles Darwin’s evolutionary ideas pronouncement, which took place at the “Lynnean Society”, on the 1st of July 1858, in London, through debates and by supporting the visit of Randal Keynes, Darwin’s greta-great-grandson, who took part in the “Caminhos do Darwin”

The Event

In Latin America, we planned a motivating and thought-provoking series of Café Scientifique about Charles Darwin. The series, entitled “ARE HUMANS SPECIAL?” aims to integrate the public from the region with the UK., stimulating the exchange of ideas, bringing and communicating science in a modern and interesting way and contributing to debate about how Darwin’s ideas are relevant in today’s world. The Cafés Scientifique will be transmitted via video conference to the cities involved in each event, with simultaneous translation.

The Public

This event will be directed to students, teachers and professionals whose work in areas related to public understanding of science.

The Specialists

We invited a specialist to deliver a small presentation followed by a debate in each Café Scientifique. The audience is encouraged to think about the theme and discuss in groups themes that are many times unfamiliar to the public.

Find more about the specialist of this series:

Daniel Glaser: Dr Daniel Glaser is Head of Special Projects in public engagement at the Wellcome Trust. His team directs activities with young people, broadcast media and scientists’ public engagement. His scientific background involves brain imaging of the visual system. In 2002 he was appointed ‘Scientist in Residence’ at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) and in 2005 received a Cultural Leadership Award from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA). He has presented a television series for the BBC and co-chairs the Café Scientifique at the Photographers' Gallery.

Find out more about Daniel Glaser.

Ashish Ranpura: Ashish Ranpura is a neuroscientist at University College London whose research explores the brain basis of number representation. He trained as a medical doctor in the United States, where he also worked as a science journalist for America's National Public Radio. He is active in American health care politics, has been a consultant scientist on several major public arts and theatre projects in England, and co- chairs a monthly Café Scienfique at the Photographers Gallery in London.

Darwin Now- Are Humans Special?

12th March 2009: Brasília, Recife and UK
Specialist:Daniel Glaser

23th October 2008: Recife, Argentina, Chile and UK..
Specialist: Daniel Glaser

6th November 2008: Rio de Janeiro, Mexico, Cuba and UK.
Specialist:Ashish Ranpura

Please contact us to obtain more information about the event in Rio de Janeiro.

Find out more about the project Darwin Now which celebrates Charles Darwin’s bicentenary.