Join us at the Scotch Plains Public Library on Monday, August 10 at 7:00pm to learn how scientists are unearthing the story of our earliest hominim ancestors through observing our closest living relatives!
By studying orangutans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and other nonhuman primates, researchers gain valuable insights into the evolutionary origins of human behavior, diet, social relationships, and survival strategies.
Doctoral student Eva Hernandez-Janer will explore how primate research helps us reconstruct the lives of our ancient ancestors while also revealing the diversity and adaptability of our living relatives. Drawing from her own research on wild orangutans in the rainforests of Borneo, Indonesia, she will discuss how scientists use modern techniques, including stable isotope analysis, to investigate how primates respond to environmental challenges like habitat destruction and climate-driven droughts and fires.
These approaches not only deepen our understanding of human evolution but also highlight the conservation challenges facing great apes today. Studying the lives of living primates allows us to better understand both our evolutionary past and the uncertain future that humans and other primates now face in a rapidly changing world.
For more information or to register, go to www.scotlib.org, email library@scotlib.org or call (908) 322-5007 x 204. The Scotch Plains Public Library is located at 1927 Bartle Avenue.