Topic: evolutionary explanations

The conference brings together empirical and theoretical research applying evolutionary explanations to behaviour. It spans behavioural ecology, comparative and developmental psychology, ethology, anthropology, cultural evolution and archaeology, with contributions from other relevant social and biological sciences. The programme encourages interdisciplinary work on the relationships among biology, social environments, culture and human behaviour.

This introductory lecture compares contemporary patterns of health with those of earlier human populations. It presents the central ideas of evolutionary medicine and uses examples to show how evolutionary explanations can contribute to understanding disease and improving health.