Scientia - 2008-09
an institute for the history of science and culture founded by Salomon Bochner
Tuesday, September 16, 2008, at 4:00 p.m.
McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall
Scientia - 2008-09
an institute for the history of science and culture founded by Salomon Bochner
Tuesday, September 16, 2008, at 4:00 p.m.
McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Rice University
"Politics in Our Genes: The Biology of Ideology"
Aristotle famously observed that "man is by nature a political animal" and that "a social instinct is implanted in all men by nature." This early apprehension that there is a biology of politics has had very little impact on the study or practice of politics. The focus of my research reflects an effort to take Aristotle's assertion literally and assess it empirically, with a specific focus on explaining variations in human political ideology. One obvious implication is that if 'implanted by nature' important political orientations could be genetically heritable. A recent study (Alford, Funk, and Hibbing, 2005), employing a large sample of MZ and DZ twins, concluded that roughly half of the variance in political ideology is attributable to genetics. Taken seriously this implies much more than just a genetics of ideology. We must also map out the neuro-physiology of ideology, and even the psychopharmacology of ideology. All of this work is beginning to be done and the early results are promising. Along the way research findings in areas as diverse as autism, the domestication of dogs, food disgust, vole family values, and lactation all contribute valuable insights. And of course the implications of a biology of ideology, and more broadly of all of politics, are manifold.
Related reading available online:
Alford, J, C. Funk, and J.R. Hibbing. "Are Political Orientations Genetically Transmitted?" American Political Science Association, May. 2005
2008-2009 Scientia Program theme:
"BIOPOLITICS"
This year's lecture series ranges widely across the disciplines to consider some of the many ways that the biological sciences intersect with politics, policy, law, morality, and ethics.
Scientia is an institute of Rice University faculty founded in 1981 by the mathematician and historian of science Salomon Bochner. Scientia provides an opportunity for scholarly discussion across disciplinary boundaries; its members and fellows come from a wide-range of academic disciplines.
Scientia sponsors an annual series of colloquia (past years' programs are listed near the bottom of this page) devoted to the exploration of a broad topic from a variety of points of view. These colloquia are open to the general public. The topic of the 2006-2007 Scientia colloquia is "Constructing the Human Being." Almost all of the colloquia consist of one speaker and a period for questions from the audience, and occasionally, there will be a panel of discussants, who respond to the speaker's remarks. Unless otherwise noted, the colloquia will take place on the specified Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m., in the McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall (enter the main/foyer entrance and then room 1055, the fourth door right). A wine and cheese reception will follow each event.
The high point of the year is the distinguished Bochner Lecture, which is held in the evening, instead of in the afternoon (details forthcoming).
New Program: All Rice faculty and staff are welcome (additional details forthcoming).
September 15, Monday, 12:15 p.m. - Matthias Henze
Cohen House, Esther's Room
Reservations not required.
The idea is simple: come to the Faculty Club, buy your own lunch downstairs, head up to Esther’s room by 12:15, and listen to carefully selected Rice faculty or staff members talk for 30 minutes about their research, scholarship or whatever they do that’s noteworthy.
Brought to you by Scientia, the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, and Cohen House Table Talk is a new program that aims to have people at Rice get to know one another better over casual lunchtime conversation at Cohen House. The speaker will finish by 12:45; then those who can stay may continue on with discussion. Here’s the point: We all have to eat lunch anyway, so why not do it in an environment that is pleasant, novel and informative? The idea for this program grew from a conversation among friends bemoaning how even at small Rice University, most faculty do not know most other faculty fi rst hand and have little idea about their real work. The same holds for staff members who don’t know faculty or one another. Most of us have heard about someone at Rice – whom we have not yet met – accomplishing amazing things in their research and scholarship in areas such as bioengineering, history, political sciences, and architecture, or running a key center or program on campus. We will strive to make this monthly program streamlined and enjoyable. Our speakers promise to be clear and accessible, knowing they are speaking about their work casually with intelligent laypeople, not talking shop with department colleagues. We pledge no long-winded introductions or closings; our goal is to make the most of the limited time each of us has.
Matthias Henze is the Watt J. and Lilly G. Jackson Chair in Biblical Studies in Religious Studies. His research interests concern the Jewish literature of the Hellenistic and early Roman periods, including social histories of the people, their self-understanding, religious disputes, and the evolution of their ideas. He is also an expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls. <http://reli.rice.edu/rice_reli.cfm?a=cms,c,10,1>.
Fall of 2008 - Colloquia Schedule:
Tuesday, 16 September 2008, 4:00 p.m., McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall
John R. Alford, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Rice University
"Politics in Our Genes: The Biology of Ideology"
Aristotle famously observed that "man is by nature a political animal" and that "a social instinct is implanted in all men by nature." This early apprehension that there is a biology of politics has had very little impact on the study or practice of politics. The focus of my research reflects an effort to take Aristotle's assertion literally and assess it empirically, with a specific focus on explaining variations in human political ideology. One obvious implication is that if 'implanted by nature' important political orientations could be genetically heritable. A recent study (Alford, Funk, and Hibbing, 2005), employing a large sample of MZ and DZ twins, concluded that roughly half of the variance in political ideology is attributable to genetics. Taken seriously this implies much more than just a genetics of ideology. We must also map out the neuro-physiology of ideology, and even the psychopharmacology of ideology. All of this work is beginning to be done and the early results are promising. Along the way research findings in areas as diverse as autism, the domestication of dogs, food disgust, vole family values, and lactation all contribute valuable insights. And of course the implications of a biology of ideology, and more broadly of all of politics, are manifold.
Related reading available online:
Alford, J, C. Funk, and J.R. Hibbing. "Are Political Orientations Genetically Transmitted?" American Political Science Association, May. 2005
Tuesday, 21 October 2008, 4:00 p.m., McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall
David Eagleman, Director, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry; Founder/Director of BMC's Initiative on Neuroscience and Law, Baylor College of Medicine
"The Brain and the Law"
Emerging questions at the interface of law and neuroscience challenge our fundamental notions of free-will and the presumptions that lie at the heart of criminality and punishment. Is it a legitimate defense, for example, to claim that a brain tumor or unique neural wiring "made you do it"? Will neuroscience inform sentencing decisions by offering a better prediction of recidivism? Can novel technologies such as brain imaging be leveraged for new methods of rehabilitation? If most behaviors are driven by systems of the brain that we cannot control, how should the law assess responsibility? Dr. Eagleman directs Baylor College of Medicine's Initiative on Neuroscience and Law , which brings together a unique collaboration of neurobiologists, legal scholars, and policy makers, with the goal of building modern, evidence-based policy.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008, 4:00 p.m., McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall
Sponsor: Center for the Study of Environment and Society, Rice University
Peggy F. Barlett, Goodrich C. White Professor of Anthropology; Faculty Liaison to the Office of Sustainability Initiatives, Emory University
"The Sustainable Campus: Food, Policies, and Place"
Abstract (forthcoming)
Tuesday, 2 December 2008, 4:00 p.m., McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall
Amy L. McGuire, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Medical Ethics, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine
"Genomic Horoscopes and the Future of Personalized Medicine"
The Human Genome Project took 13 years and $2.7 billion dollars to complete. It is now possible to sequence an individual's entire genome within a few months for less than $1 million. Advances in technology have stimulated research, enabling scientists to better understand human genetic variation and its association with common and complex disorders, such as heart disease and diabetes. Many envision a day when every patient will know his or her genomic profile and this information will be used to make better decisions about medical treatment and preventive care. Already, companies are offering direct-to-consumer personal genome testing, seeking to empower individuals with knowledge about their genetic make-up. Currently, however, most genomic information has limited clinical utility. What impact will this have on the practice of medicine and what challenges will have to be overcome for the promise of personalized medicine to become a reality? Please join Dr. Amy McGuire as she discusses current initiatives in genome research and the recent proliferation of direct-to-consumer personal genome testing. Dr. McGuire will focus on the future of personal genomics and its ethical, legal, and social implications.
Spring of 2009 - Colloquia Schedule:
Tuesday, 13 January 2009, 4:00 p.m., McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall
Neal Lane, University Professor; Senior Fellow, Science and Technology Policy, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy; Professor, Physics and Astronomy, Space Institute, Rice University
"Scientist Speaking Out"
Abstract (forthcoming)
Tuesday, 17 February, 2009, 4:00 p.m., McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall
(details forthcoming)
THE BOCHNER LECTURE (evening lecture)
Monday, 9 March, 2009, 7:00 p.m., McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall
Sponsor: Department of Anthropology, Rice University
Nikolas Rose, Professor, Sociology; Director, BIOS Centre for the Study of Bioscience, Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Society, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
"Neuropolitics in the Twenty First Century"
Abstract (forthcoming)
Tuesday, 21 April, 2009, 4:00 p.m., McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall
(details forthcoming)
Scientia Members
Details available here.
Scientia Fellows
Details available here.
C. P. Snow Fellowships
Details available here.
Past Scientia Events:
2005 Panel Discussion: "Hurricane Katrina and Houston: Implications for our Future"
2007 Panel Discussion: Exhibiting "Lucy": Bones of contention at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
Past Scientia Programs:
Videotapes/DVDs of some of the past colloquia are available via Fondren Library, as well as the programs from past years.
2006-2007 Colloquia: "Constructing the Human Being"
2005-2006 Colloquia: "Animals and Humans"
2004-2005 Colloquia: "Conflict, Violence, and War "
2003-2004 Colloquia: "Human Fragility and Resourcefulness: Are We Fit Enough to Survive?"
2002-2003 Colloquia: "Evolutionary Biology as Paradigm Science"
2001-2002 Colloquia: "Health and Welfare Policy"
2000-2001 Colloquia: "Taking Chances: Risk and Randomness in Science and Society"
1999-2000 Colloquia: "Re-Thinking the University"
Malcolm Gillis on "Rice in the 21st Century" (April 25, 2000) Real Time Video
1998-1999 Colloquia: "Science and Religion: An Examination"
1997-1998 Colloquia: "In Memoriam: Kuhn and the Problem of Scientific Knowledge"
1996-1997 Colloquia: "Approaching the Millennium: Global Changes, Local Effects"
1995-1996 Colloquia: "Approaching the Millennium: Technologies, Communities, Histories"
1994-1995 Colloquia: "Ways of Knowing"
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For further information about Scientia, please contact either Ms. Ellen Butler, Program Coordinator, Scientia Institute/De Lange Conferences, at 713-348-4695, or, Dr. Susan K. McIntosh, Director of Scientia, at 713-348-3380.
Last revised, May 2008, eb