You are invited to attend CARTA’s public symposium, “How Humans Came to Construct Their Worlds,” to be held on Friday, October 11, 2024 – whether in person at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, by live Zoom, or by later viewing the recorded talks.

For information about the talks, speakers, and registration, see https://carta.anthropogeny.org/events/how-humans-came-construct-their-worlds.

Summary

At a global level, Homo sapiens have reshaped the planet Earth to such an extent that we now talk of a new geological age, the Anthropocene. But each of us shapes our own worlds, physically, symbolically, and in the worlds of imagination. This symposium focuses especially on one form of construction, the construction of buildings, while stressing that such construction is ever shaped by diverse factors from landscape to culture and the construction of history embodied in it - and more. After a brief look at birds building their nests as an example of variation on a species-specific Bauplan, we sample a broad sweep of cultural evolution and niche construction from the earliest stone tools of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens through the Neolithic and the rise of cities to the formal and informal architecture of the present day. Finally, we explore the ways artificial intelligence may further change how humans construct their mental and physical worlds.

Learn more about the celebrated design of our venue, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, itself a marvel of human construction.

IMPORTANT NOTES

Parking: Please note that there is NO public parking available on the Salk Institute campus, but there are other options (free and paid) available in the area. See below for a downloadable map with parking tips.

Carpooling and use of public transportation or a Rideshare service, such as Uber or Lyft, are strongly encouraged, along with early arrival.

Attire: Please note that the auditorium can be very cool, so a light sweater or jacket is recommended.