Seventh Annual Conference

7th Annual Conference in Philosophy & Biology

Cooperative Alliances in the History of Life: Aggregation, Individuation, and the Major Evolutionary Transitions

April 11th – 13th, 2008
Duke University
Durham, NC

FRENCH FAMILY SCIENCE CENTER RM 2231

Keynote speakers include:

Todd Grantham (College of Charleston, Philosophy)

Samir Okasha (University of Bristol, Philosophy)

Joan Strassmann (Rice University, Biology)

Other speakers include:

Brett Calcott (Australian National University, Philosophy)

Ellen Clarke (University of Bristol, Philosophy)

Andrew Hamilton (Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences)

Lauren McCall (Duke University, NESCent)

Dan McShea (Duke University, Biology)

Ioan Muntean (University of California San Diego, Philosophy)

Carl Simpson (Duke University, Biology)

The purpose of this conference is to explore the common genetic, developmental, and ecological factors associated with the origins of complex individuality at all levels of the biological hierarchy, particularly in relation to the major evolutionary transitions. How has evolution addressed the levels of selection problems that are inherent to cooperative alliances in the history of life? Are there any universal principles that govern the transitions to complex multicellular or colonial life? The goal is to shed light on the contingencies and regularities associated with the emergence of complex individuality.

For questions and additional information, please contact the conference organizers,

Leonore Fleming and Russell Powell, at: LZF@duke.edu

This conference is sponsored by a grant from the Cambridge Templeton Foundation as well as by the National Science Foundation and the Duke Biology Department.

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