On Wed., Oct. 3, American evolutionary biologist and sociobiologist Robert Trivers will deliver the next lecture in the University of Regina’s Social Policy Research Unit’s “Rethinking Productivity Speaker Series.”

Trivers was named one of the 100 greatest thinkers and scientists of the 20th Century by Time magazine, and was recently awarded the $500,000 Crafoord Prize in Biosciences for his fundamental analysis of social evolution, conflict and cooperation.

As a graduate student in his twenties, Trivers wrote a series of papers on evolutionary biology that remain some of the most influential ever published. His theoretical frameworks laid the groundwork for many of his contemporaries such as Richard Dawkins, providing a Darwinian basis for understanding complex human activities and relationships, including the evolutionary basis of human beings’ sense of social justice. Trivers ideas on altruism, cooperation, reciprocity and evolutionary dynamics get to the very heart of the development of human civilization. They can be seen at play in such places as: Google’s page rankings; amazon.com’s reader reviews; and eBay’s reputations for buyers and sellers.

“Robert Trivers is the ‘Evolutionary Revolutionary,’” says Social Policy Research Unit Director Garson Hunter. “Although you may not recognize his name, he is one of the world’s most important scientists. He really is one of the most influential and consistently correct theoretical evolutionary biologists of our time. We are very fortunate to have him a part of the Rethinking Productivity Speaker Series as he has just recently made himself available for speaking engagements. People won’t want to miss this lecture.”

The Rethinking Productivity Speaker Series is designed to explore alternative ideas of productivity. Speakers look at ways in which modern democracy can divert governments from focusing solely on the interests of the rich and powerful. The series’ speakers have included Academy Award-winning director Oliver Stone, journalist Wendy Mesley and consumer advocate Ralph Nader.

Event: 7:30 p.m., Wed., Oct. 3, 2007
Location: University of Regina Education Auditorium
Free Admission and Parking in Lots 14 and 15M