Why Is There Only One Species of Human

Part of: Evolution: The Big Questions

We are the only human species on the planet today. But for most of our history we have not been alone. Fossil and genetic evidence has revealed a diverse and fascinating set of human-like species, from Neanderthals to Denisovans, to Homo Floresiensis (The Hobbit) and more. We’ll meet many of them in this lecture, investigate why they died out and reveal why some of them are much closer relatives than you might think.

Professor May is Gresham Professor of Physic, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Professor of Infectious Disease at the University of Birmingham, Professor Robin May was appointed Gresham Professor of Physic in May 2022.  His early training was in Plant Sciences at the University of Oxford, followed by a PhD on mammalian cell biology at University College London and the University of Birmingham.  Professor May continues his work on Infectious Disease at the University of Birmingham. A Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Wolfson Royal Society Research Merit Fellow and Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, Professor May specialises in research into human infectious diseases, with a particular focus on how pathogens survive and replicate within host organisms.  As the FSA’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor May provides expert scientific advice to the UK government and plays a critical role in helping to understand how scientific developments will shape the work of the FSA, as well as the strategic implications of any possible changes.  Read more >

This FREE event is run by Gresham College in London.  You must regsiter at: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/one-human