darwin-header

Darwin@LSE

Project leader: Helena Cronin

Darwin@LSE explored recent developments in evolutionary thinking, in particular what evolutionary theory can tell us about human nature – understanding our bodies, brains, minds, behaviour and aspects of culture as the products of adaptations evolved by natural selection.

TheDarwin@LSE programme was launched in April 1995. It rapidly became established as a world renowned focus for Darwinian ideas and helped to place Darwinian theory on the intellectual agenda.

 

 

People

Helena Cronin

Helena Cronin launched and runs Darwin@LSE. She is a Co-Director of LSE's Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science. She is the author of The Ant and the Peacock: Altruism and sexual selection from Darwin to today (Cambridge University Press) and co-editor of Darwinism Today. Her research interests include an evolutionary understanding of sex differences; methodological problems of evolutionary theory, particularly in its application to our own species; and how Darwinian theory can inform policy. Helena is currently writing a book on sex differences.

Oliver Curry

Oliver Curry is a post-doctoral researcher in the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Oxford, and a research associate at the LSE's Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science. Oliver is interested in evolutionary explanations of behaviour, especially human social, moral and political behaviour. He completed his PhD in 2005 in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics. His thesis argued that morality could be seen as the product of a suite of 'adaptations for cooperation' that evolved to solve the problems of cooperation and conflict recurrent in the lives of our ancestors. He is currently engaged in a number of empirical projects testing evolutionary theories of human social behaviour, including work on trust, fairness and coalition formation. Oliver is co-editor and author of various Darwin@LSE publications, including Darwinism Today and the special edition of the Demos Quarterly.

Richard H Webb

Richard Webb was involved in launching Darwin@LSE. He is a Research Associate in LSE's Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science. A zoologist by training, he is particularly interested in the evolutionary mechanisms of non-living systems, especially those, such as technology, that seem at first glance to be directed by human intentions (themselvesthe product of evolved minds). A management consultant by profession, Richard has worked with industry to develop tools that apply evolutionary theory to managing research and development (R&D) and encouraging innovation. He has used evolutionary principles to help a range of public and private sector clients to develop their organisations and manage change. His special interest areas are agriculture and public health.