By Mary Kocz, SRGMC
What changes allowed us to stand, walk and run upright? Primates, including human beings, are characterized by a number of distinct features that distinguish them from other mammals. What traits distinguish humans from other primates?
Dr. Jason Kennedy will tell all in “Born to Run: The Evolution of Human Locomotion” at the Spring River Gem & Mineral Club 10AM, July 4, at the Spring River Gem & Mineral Club at Thunderbird Center, 62 N. Lakeshore Rd in Cherokee Village, AR.
Dr. Kennedy will discuss the origins of human locomotion beginning with the Miocene Apes roughly 22 million years ago and changes that resulted in our unique biological adaptation to running and walking upright. Evidence will be presented on the positive and negative consequences of our evolutionary trajectory and explore why many of our biological features are adapted for distance running. Additionally, Dr. Kennedy will discuss several changes with the emergence of modern Homo that make us distinctly different from our primate cousins.
Presently an assistant professor of Anthropology at Lyon College in Batesville, Arkanasas, Dr. Kennedy has always been fascinated by history and science. “When I entered college, I thought I wanted to do astronomy and physics, bur realized quickly how much I despised calculus. It would be a nightmare to have to do calculus every day for the rest of my life so I switched majors to history and anthropology. There, in Anthropology, I found my true home.” Dr. Kennedy holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from Binghamton University, SUNY. His research explores the origins of social inequalities in early states and the role of food and alcohol in the creation and maintenance of ancient social systems. Visitors are invited to attend this meeting.
Spring River Gem & Mineral Club consistently offers programs given by experts in their fields. It is unique in our area that it offers educational programs within the club interests, which are archeology, mineralogy, geology, paleontology, anthropology, American Indians and Ozark Academic History. Members are mostly retirees who say “the older we get, the more we know that we don’t know.” We invite newcomers into our club who want to catch up and learn more about topics that we didn’t have time to fully explore while working and raising a family. Presentations always given “in person”. We have no virtual meetings.
SRGMC has dues ($15 single;$25 family) because we have expenses. We belong to the Southwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies and so must pay membership fees and liability insurance. Our speakers travel from far and near to give us a one hour program: St. Louis and Springfield, MO, Memphis, TN, and Fayetteville, Little Rock, Jonesboro, Batesville, Mountain Home, AR. For this we offer an honorarium for traveling expenses and also invite our speakers to lunch. For further info call/text 870.847.3109.
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