Sex, Genes and Rock 'n' Roll will be the focus of a public talk at The University of Queensland next month.
Director of the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre at The University of New South Wales, Professor Rob Brooks, will present on several modern phenomena including high mortality rates among rock stars, obesity, and Asia's missing women.
"At the moment I am especially interested in the evolution of human life histories, the reasons for sex differences in aging and longevity, the unfolding obesity crisis, the relationship between evolution and equity feminism and the evolution of human bodies," Professor Brooks said.
Professor Brooks said he studies sex and its evolutionary consequences because of its power to help people understand nature and the human condition.
"My current research interests include the purpose of rock 'n' roll, what we can and cannot infer about morality from studying the natural world and the interactions between evolution and economics," Professor Brooks said.
Having recently released his first book - Sex, Genes & Rock 'n' Roll: How Evolution has Shaped the Modern World, Professor Brooks believes that evolution is "the most important idea anybody ever had."
The book sets out how evolutionary biology can help in the understanding of the great issues of the 21st century.
"For too long, evolutionary explanations for contemporary phenomena have been polarised from sociological, psychological and economic explanations," Professor Brooks said.
This public talk will take place at The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus on Thursday, September 8, 2011.
Located in the Abel Smith Lecture Theatre, Building 23, refreshments will run from 6.30pm, with the talk scheduled for 7pm - 8pm.
RSVP by Friday, September 2, 2011 to psychalum@psy.uq.edu.au or (07) 3346 9517.
Media: Kate Rainthorpe, Engagement Officer School of Psychology
(07) 3365 7427 or k.rainthorpe@uq.edu.au
