Dream Jobs

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Kaylee DuganMay 28, 2014

Pre-made shoes are for squares....

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General Assembly Startup Summer Scholarship Giveaway!

BYT at largeApril 29, 2014

School's IN for summer!...

Cute StuffDream JobsMiscNews 01 min read

Startups To Start Noticing: Global Public Speaking

emilycatinoMarch 11, 2014

Finally an answer to the question: Is it harder to be an opera singer or a public speaker. The answer will not surprise you....

Dream JobsMisc 07 min read

Startups To Start Noticing: Wend

emilycatinoMarch 6, 2014

Have you ever wanted to send a bunch of foot soldiers to a coworkers apartment?...

Dream JobsMisc 04 min read

Startups to Start Noticing: SocialRadar

ashleywrightFebruary 26, 2014

SocialRadar will personalize your social network and bring connections to the real world. ...

Dream JobsMisc 08 min read

Startups To Start Noticing: Dreamcliq

emilycatinoFebruary 13, 2014

Imagine a world where the get-to-know-you first date conversation is pointless. Now imagine not needing to imagine this world. Now introduce yourself to Dreamcliq. ...

Dream JobsMisc 08 min read

DC Startups To Start Noticing: UrbanStems

emilycatinoFebruary 11, 2014

Boy, girl, in a relationship, single, or “it’s complicated,” it would be nice to get some flowers this holiday (for $5 OFF, no less)....

Dream JobsMisc 09 min read

DC Startups To Start Noticing: SnapDash

emilycatinoFebruary 5, 2014

It all starts with a good idea…and it also doesn’t hurt to have a few drinks....

Dream JobsMisc 08 min read

Filter Events

27jan4:30 pmWinter Igloos at the Watergate Hotel4:30 pm The Watergate Hotel

27jan6:00 pm8:30 pmProfs & Pints: Primates and Conflict6:00 pm - 8:30 pm Bier Baron Tavern

Event Details

Profs and Pints presents: “Primates and Conflict,” a look at how monkey and ape behavior helps explain human tribalism and warfare, with primatologist Laura Martínez Íñigo, postdoctoral researcher at Howard University and former instructor at England’s University of Lincoln.

Human history is replete with wars and genocides that have decimated millions and devastated nations. On a daily basis, we see conflicts between sympathizers of different political parties, or even just between fans of rival sports teams. Our minds seem ready to categorize people into groups, and push people to join with “us” against those we often dehumanize as “them,” How did we get here?

Come hear that question tackled by Laura Martínez Íñigo, whose interest in primates has led her to follow monkeys and apes through jungles, swamps, and snowy mountains in Africa and Asia. She’ll show us how the study of monkeys and apes help us to understand where our tendency for warfare and tribalism may have come from, what factors contribute to peace and war in nature, and the curious link connecting within-group love and between-group hostility.

Like us, most other primates live in groups, and when they meet their neighbors things can get pretty ugly. While fights between monkey groups are common, they rarely end in fatalities. Nonetheless, one of our closest and smartest living relatives, the chimpanzee, seems to actively seek opportunities to kill members of other groups.

Is intelligence the evil in both of us? Well, Bonobos, as related to us as chimpanzees and similarly gifted, often mingle peacefully with other groups for days of play and sex. So what is it, then, that triggers violence?

In looking at the behavior of other primates, you’ll walk out with a better understanding of our place in nature. Maybe, the next time that you catch yourself acting tribal, you will choose not to be chimp-like, and instead tap into our ability to make peace. (Advance tickets: $12. Doors: $15, save $2 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later. Please arrive in plenty of time to place any order and be seated and settled before the talk begins.)