Homo sapiens has come to dominate the planet, but what are the traits that have allowed humans to have such a position? On this episode, “Human Story,” Dr. Liat Ben David, CEO of the Davidson Institute of Science Education, the educational arm of Israel's acclaimed Weizmann Institute of Science, discusses her book, The Story of Our Lives, The: Homo Sapiens' Secrets of Success.
Excerpt from Groks Science Show
"I do have strong beliefs that through the education processes such as we’re doing at Davidson with youths — from not only Israel but all over the world — creating and developing science literacy as the tools for making decisions and solving problems for more and more of our youngsters, and if we want the bright future that I’m talking about, science literacy is the pillar of building up a better, democratic, and tolerant society.” – Dr. Liat Ben David
About "The Story of Our Lives, The: Homo Sapiens' Secrets of Success" by Liat Ben David
We are a restless, world-changing species. We are the only organism that combines a multitude of abilities to harness the rules of nature, continuously manipulating our environment, its resources and even our own bodies to fit our ever-changing needs and desires. What is it that enables us to share some 99 percent of DNA as well as some basic behaviors with other organisms, yet at the same time be so different and powerful?
Coalescing understandings driven from biology, psychology, anthropology, history and more, Ben David addresses the above question using a new paradigm: The Gordian knot between five human traits — imagination, creative making, complex communication, change and intergenerational transfer — evolutionary developed and co-amplified as the ultra-complex system called Homo sapiens.
Weaving personal stories with professional experience, Ben David narrates innovative definitions of technology, education, science and their co-dependence; emphasizes their roles in the development of human societies; deliberates their implications on everyday life; discusses the crucial role of science education; and offers a fresh look at who we are as the leading species on this planet.
About Dr. Liat Ben David
Dr. Liat Ben David is the CEO of the Davidson Institute of Science Education. She holds a PhD in Molecular Biology and has more than 30 years of experience in the field of STEM education. Ben David teaches regularly in various spheres, including academia and TEDx; she is an accomplished author who has published numerous articles and books.
About the Davidson Institute of Science
The Davidson Institute of Science, the educational arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science, develops and disseminates science programs, from scientific literacy for all to scientific excellence and development of the future scientists of Israel.
About Groks Science Radio Show and Podcast
Groks Science is a weekly science radio program hosted by Dr. Charles Lee and Dr. Frank Ling. Each show features interviews with scientists and technical innovators, humorous commentary on recent discoveries.
Produced in Baton Rouge, LA, Chicago, and Tokyo, the show broadcasts on radio stations across the country and can also be heard as a podcast. Each week’s episode offers an in-depth look at recent events in the world of science and technology, examining the effects of recent discoveries on our daily lives.
Grok (grok) v. To perceive a subject so deeply that one no longer knows it, but rather understands it on a fundamental level.
