Jonathan Marks, a professor of anthropology, will share the story behind his lively and provocative book “Why I Am Not a Scientist: Anthropology and Modern Knowledge” at the first of the 2013-14 Personally Speaking community talks, scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24, at UNC Charlotte Center City.
In a free, public presentation, Marks will explore biological anthropology, the history of the life sciences and the literature of science studies through an innovative approach that integrates philosophy, history, sociology and auto-ethnography.
Marks argues that science is considered to be three things: a method of understanding and establishing facts about the universe, the facts themselves and a voice of authority or a locus of cultural power. He will consider these roles and their impact on the evolution of science, its relationship to modern culture and science’s current challenges.
Specializing in the study of human evolution and human diversity, Marks is a Templeton Fellow at the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study for the 2013-14 academic year. He is researching “How to Think About Human Evolution.” His primary areas of interest include biological anthropology, human genetics, history of anthropological thought and evolution and society.
Other books by Marks include “Human Biodiversity” and “What It Means to be 98% Chimpanzee.” He also has written more than 100 articles in edited volumes and scholarly journals, and he has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Human Evolution, International Journal of Primatology, Yearbook of Physical Anthropology and Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute.
In 2012, Marks received the First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal, presented by First Citizens Bank and UNC Charlotte in honor of faculty scholarship and intellectual inquiry. Marks also received the 1999 Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching from the American Anthropological Association and served as president of its General Anthropology Division from 2000-02.
Marks is the first of four faculty members from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences who will discuss their research and books during this year’s Personally Speaking lecture series, co-sponsored by the college and the J. Murrey Atkins Library. Each free lecture is followed by a reception. RSVPs are requested via email to clas-event@uncc.edu or call 704-687-0082. Parking is provided. More information is on the Web.