Museum of Natural History's Ian Tattersall to Speak at CCM Legacy Project on March 8
Published on February 18, 2018
Marks CCM's 5th Annual Lecture Series -- Reserve a Spot Now
Paleoanthropologist Ian Tattersall
More than 100,000 years ago, the birth of language began for Homo sapiens who then managed to dominate the planet, while other human species went extinct.
The question of how this occurred and the spectacular journey of becoming human will be explored during the County College of Morris Legacy Project's fifth anniversary lecture series when it welcomes Ian Tattersall, renowned author, paleoanthropologist and emeritus curator, Museum of Natural History, New York.
Born in England and raised in East Africa, Tattersall has focused his major research on how modern humans acquired a unique style of thinking. No other species possesses the mental power of the Homo sapien to read the world symbolically and express endless ideas in articulate language.
The Legacy Project invites the public to attend Tattersall's lecture, The Pensive Primate: Origin of Modern Human Cognition, on Thursday, March 8, at 12:30 p.m. in the Davidson Rooms at the Student Community Center, located on CCM's Randolph Campus, 214 Center Grove Road.
Also participating in the Legacy Project's fifth season (later this year) will be broadcast journalist Maria Hinojosa on Tuesday, May 1.
Broadcast Journalist Maria Hinojosa
The objective of the Legacy Project, an interdisciplinary initiative at CCM, is to promote engagement and context on important subject areas that impact history and the modern day. The lecture series, curricular materials and other projects are shared with the CCM community and the public.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of the Legacy Project is seeing how students and members of the community walk away each and every time influenced by these powerful stories and important educational lessons, remarked John Soltes, assistant professor, Communication and co-chair of the Legacy Project.
Previous Legacy Project events include a performance by Ballet Hispanico's BHdos dance company; a lecture by national suicide prevention advocate Kevin Hines; a lecture by Maud Dahme, New Jersey Hall of Famer, on her experiences of surviving the Holocaust; and a panel discussion of civil rights leaders, including a personal friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Legacy Project advisory committee is comprised of 25 members with representation from CCM's School of Liberal Arts, School of Health Professions and Natural Sciences, Department of Special Events, Department of Counseling Services and Student Success and the Learning Resource Center.
Soltes conducts the final planning for the annual lecture series along with fellow co-chairs: Michelle Altieri, assistant professor, Communication; Dee McAree, assistant professor, English and Philosophy; and Dr. Jill Schennum, department chair of Sociology, Anthropology and Economics.
Reservations to the Legacy Project lectures are not required but appreciated by emailing legacy@ccm.edu or calling 973-328-5469. All visitors must obtain a parking pass from the Public Safety office, which is located across from Parking Lot 10. For a map of the CCM campus visit http://www3.ccm.edu/newmap.shtml.