Human Origins and Humanity's Future: Past, Present and Future of the Anthropocene

Summary:
CARTA public symposia typically begin by emphasizing that the primary goal of Anthropogeny is to explore and understand where we humans came from, and how we got here. Consequently, we usually limit discussion of current day implications, and the question of where we are going as a species. This time we will focus on the long and short-term impact of humans on the planet that we inhabit, and the consequences for the future of our species. This also gives us the opportunity to celebrate the memory of the late Paul Crutzen, who coined the term “Anthropocene”. It is relevant to ask how a single species evolved the capacity to completely alter the surface of an entire planet and dominate its governing environmental and ecological processes. This symposium will bring together experts regarding human impact on the planet and also address the current and future implications for our species.

Event Sessions

Media for each talk can be played by clicking on icons in the "Media" column, or by clicking on the individual talk titles below and then the attachment file at the bottom of the page.

Media	Session	Speakers
	Welcome & Opening Remarks	Fred Gage, Salk Institute for Biological Studies Charles Kennel, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and University of Cambridge
	Honoring Paul Crutzen, A Personal Appreciation	Veerabhadran Ramanathan, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego
	How Humans Evolved the Capacity to Change the Entire Planet	Leslie Aiello, University College London
	The Domestication of Crops and the Anthropocene	Michael Purugganan, New York University
	Ants and the Anthropocene	Mark Moffett, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History
	The Coming Crisis of the Anthropocene	Charles Kennel, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and University of Cambridge
	The Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases	Vanessa Ezenwa, Yale University
	The Oceans and the Anthropocene	Nancy Knowlton, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History
	We Alone: How Humans Have Conquered the Planet and Can Also Save It	David Western, African Conservation Center, Nairobi, Kenya
	Potential Utopian and Dystopian Futures	Martin Rees, University of Cambridge
	Question & Answer Session and Closing Remarks	All Speakers Margaret Schoeninger, University of California, San Diego

Event Glossary

A glossary for this event is available as a Searchable List and a PDF.