Dear All,

 

Please find below information on March’s Communicating Science event at ZSL – I hope this is of interest.

 

6.00pm, Tuesday 9 March 2010 – THE HUMAN ANIMAL: BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF MATE CHOICE - ZSL Communicating Science series

 

These talks will begin at 6.00pm on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 in the ZSL Meeting Rooms. The talks and question period after are free and open to everyone; doors will be open from 5.00pm on the evening and seats will be on a first-come, first-served basis – please arrive early to ensure you get a good seat!

 

This event has been organised by Dr S. Craig Roberts, School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool.

 

 

THE HUMAN ANIMAL: BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF MATE CHOICE

 

'There is a road from the eye to the heart that does not go through the intellect' GK Chesterton

 

Biological approaches to human behaviour suggest that human mate preferences are influenced by similar underlying mechanisms to those seen in animals. Visual cues play a large part in judgements of attractiveness, compatibility and mutual interest. Recent research has revealed new insights into the intricacies of these cues and how we form judgements based on them, either at first impression or in the early stages of courtship, without fully realising how these decisions are made.

 

Evolutionary explanations for human partner choice will be explored, drawing parallels with mate choice in animals. What attributes are desirable in potential partners? Does love at first sight make evolutionary sense? What does our body language reveal about how we feel?

 

Speakers:

• Professor Robin Dunbar, Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford;
• Professor Karl Grammer, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Urban Ethology, Vienna; and
• Dr Anthony Little, Department of Psychology, University of Stirling.

 

Talk titles TBC but please see www.zsl.org/science/scientific-meetings for updates.

 

 

These talks are free and open to everyone – no need to book in advance but please arrive early as seating is limited.

 

DINNER WITH THE SPEAKERS

A 3-course dinner with the speakers will follow this Communicating Science event. Places for dinner must be booked by 5pm on Wednesday, 3 March. Please see www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/whats-on/biological-basis-mate-choice,358,EV.html for further details and please forward to others who might be interested.

 

Thank you and please feel free to get in touch with me if you have any queries on ZSL’s programme of Science and Conservation Events.

 

Best,

Joy :-)

 

 

p.s. a final reminder about this week's "Foundations of biodiversity: saving the world's non-vertebrates" symposium. Places are still available but must be booked in advance. Please see www.zsl.org/science/scientific-meetings for details - places are £140 for both days, or £90 per single day; price for students and ZSL Friends and Fellows is £75 and £50, respectively (including late registration fee).