2009 Keynote Address

“From Race as Biology to the Biological Consequences of Race and Racism”

Dr. Alan Goodman, Professor of Biological Anthropology, Hampshire College

Topic Description

At the intersection of biology, society and human health, scientists and social scientists have recently raised fascinating and far-reaching questions about the meaning of race.  Dr. Alan Goodman, a Professor of biological anthropology and the keynote speaker at Bridgewater’s Center for the Advancement of Science Exploration (CASE) annual conference will speak on this subject.  He is well known for moving forward the understanding of race and the factors, be they genetic or “lived experiences”, that influence human health and nutrition. 

Dr. Goodman was featured in the 2003 PBS television series “Race-the power of an illusion”, where he provides important viewpoints on the cultural context of race.  He has collaborated on important educational outreach missions on race and human variation for teachers and the general public.  As past president of the American Anthropological Association, he co-chairs a collaborative project that developed a nationwide travelling science museum exhibit called “RACE: Are We So Different?” and a companion website (understandingrace.org). 

Co-sponsors

Center for the Advancement of Science Exploration, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Office of Institutional Diversity, Center for Multicultural Affairs and Project Compass.

Further Information about the Lecture Topic

http://www.understandingrace.com/home.html This website is associated with the educational outreach on race related to the travelling science museum exhibit, “RACE: Are We So Different?”.   Please explore this site including the “Virtual Exhibit Tour” as well as the “Resources” both for teachers and researchers, including curriculum and access to journal articles.

http://www.pbs.org/race/000_General/000_00-Home.htm This website is the companion website to “Race-the power of an illusion” a PBS series featuring Dr. Alan Goodman.  Please explore “Learn More” as well as the curriculum “For teachers”, “Background Readings” and “Resources”.

http://www.nchpeg.org/raceandgenetics/index.asp Recently, the people’s choice of the first African American President has led to a renewed national focus on race.  In the scientific community, this renewed focus has been ongoing since 2001 because of the vast new information that has resulted from the deciphering of the human genetic code.  New methods have developed to uncover the genes influencing diseases as well as new ways to discover where in the world a person’s ancestors lived.  In the field of medicine, the importance of a person’s race or ancestry in understanding either the susceptibility to or differential treatment for a disease has been extensively debated. Much work has also been done on the health differences observed between members of different racial and ethnic groups that are due to lived experiences, including racism.  Please look through this set of “frequently asked questions” for a more technical view of some of these scientific advances.