When it comes to tracing our ancestry, most of us are able to go back several generations. On February 27 at The Society of the Four Arts, population geneticist Dr. Spencer Wells will explain how the the cutting-edge science of National Geographic and IBM’s Genographic Project – takes our genealogy beyond the traditional family tree and finds your migratory routes around the world using DNA. This bonus lecture and book signing is part of the Four Arts’ Campus on the Lake Series and takes place at 2:30 p.m. on February 27 in the Walter S. Gubelmann Auditorium. It is free and open to the public.
Wells, 38, is a scientist, author, and documentary filmmaker who has dedicated much of his career to studying humankind’s family tree and closing the gaps in our knowledge of human migration through DNA. The Genographic Project represents the ultimate marriage of his two great passions: biology and history. Dr. Wells is a noted lecturer who makes his subject matter not only compelling, but also accessible to his audience.
According to Wells, the story of humanity’s journey can be found within each of us—encoded in our DNA. In 2005, National Geographic and IBM, with support from the Waitt Family Foundation, launched the project, which boasts more than a quarter of a million participants. The public is encouraged to get involved and kit proceeds go back to a Legacy Fund, which supports indigenous peoples aiming to revitalize their languages and cultures.
Dr. Wells graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Texas at Austin at the age of 19 going on to pursue his Ph.D. at Harvard University and his post-doctoral training at Stanford. He is the writer and presenter of the award winning documentary, Journey of Man and since the project launched in 2005, his work with the Project’s ten global research centers has taken him to three dozen countries including Chad, Tajikistan, Morocco and French Polynesia.
Dr. Wells’ February 27 presentation at The Four Arts is free and open to the public. Reservations are requested by calling (561) 805-8562.
