As ethnic nationalism, the far-right and white supremacy sees a rise across the world, race science is experiencing a revival, fuelled by the abuse of data and facts by politically-motivated groups. The story of who humans are and how we evolved is being rewritten to suit their agendas. Even well-intentioned scientists, through their unconscious use of old-fashioned categories, betray some suspicion that race has some basis in biology. In truth, it is no more real than it was hundreds of years ago, when racial categories were invented and hardened by those in power.
In Superior, award-winning author Angela Saini explores the concept of race, from its origins to the present day, explores why we find it so hard to let go of the notion that race is biologically real, and the political consequences of this dangerous idea.
Angela Saini: The Return of Race Science
Angela Saini is visiting the Science Studies Colloqium Series. Saini has a Masters degree in Engineering from Oxford University and was a fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is an award-winning British science journalist and broadcaster. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, New Scientist, Wired, New Humanist, and she regularly presents science programmes on BBC radio. Saini has won awards from the Association of British Science Writers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She was also named European Science Writer of the Year.
The seminar is open for everyone!
Published Dec. 10, 2019 5:44 PM
- Last modified Aug. 27, 2020 1:02 PM