University of California, Berkeley
Postdoctoral Fellow, Integrative Biology
Stanford University, Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere
About
Brian Swartz is a postdoctoral student of evolutionary biology. His work focuses on the structure of evolutionary theory, the nature of ‘species’, and the sociopolitical ramifications of speciesism. His other research projects include: (a) the interplay of construction, function, and history over macroevolutionary time; (b) the origin and early evolution of tetrapod locomotor (ad)aptations; and (c) the paleoenvironmental history of stem-tetrapods. Before coming to Berkeley, Brian studied evolutionary biology at the University of Cambridge in the Departments of Zoology and Earth Sciences. He frequently teaches classes in evolution and has worked with The National Center for Science Education, the University of California Museum of Paleontology, and The Discovery Channel to develop evolutionary resources for science teachers and for public dissemination.
Brian’s other deliberations include:
The History and Philosophy of Science: the history and structure of evolutionary theory, nineteenth century Victorian England, the limitations of the neo-Darwinian synthesis, the relationship between micro and macroevolution, levels of selection, the history and utility of species concepts in biology.
Evolutionary Biology: the history of the Earth-system, the origin(s) of life, the Proterozoic diversification of eukaryotes, metazoan phylogeny, the origin and early diversification of land plants, the evolution of the vertebrate ‘systems’, diversity through time and macroecology, sociobiology and behavioral ecology.
Health and Medicine: the history of dietary and nutritional research, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, exercise physiology, the utility of evolutionary medicine, radiology and medical imaging, stress biology, the biology of belief, the biopsychological underpinnings of personal and social interactions.
Science and Society: human ecology, overpopulation, resource management, ‘pest’ management, alternative fuels, the sociopolitical ramifications of scientific illiteracy, science education.
