EIHS Public Lecture: Ancestors: Where Do We Come From and Why Do We Care?
Maya Jasanoff (Harvard University)
Format: Lecture followed by Q&A
Abstract: Everyone comes from somewhere. From the doctor’s office to the passport office, from whom we’ve descended affects the biological, legal, and cultural identities of just about everybody in the world today. How did ancestry come to play such a critical role in defining status? Drawing on insights from history, anthropology, and genetics, this lecture will meditate on the human preoccupation with lineage from ancient times to the DNA tests of today.
Biography: Maya Jasanoff is the Coolidge Professor of History at Harvard University. She is the author of three books—"Edge of Empire" (2005), "Liberty’s Exiles" (2011), and "The Dawn Watch" (2017)—which have won accolades including the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Cundill Prize in History, the George Washington Book Prize, and the Windham-Campbell Prize for Non-Fiction. Jasanoff is currently completing a broad-ranging history of the human preoccupation with ancestry. She writes widely about history, literature, and world affairs for publications including The New Yorker and The New York Times.
This event presented by the Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies. It is made possible in part by a generous contribution from Kenneth and Frances Aftel Eisenberg. Additional support from the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies.
Abstract: Everyone comes from somewhere. From the doctor’s office to the passport office, from whom we’ve descended affects the biological, legal, and cultural identities of just about everybody in the world today. How did ancestry come to play such a critical role in defining status? Drawing on insights from history, anthropology, and genetics, this lecture will meditate on the human preoccupation with lineage from ancient times to the DNA tests of today.
Biography: Maya Jasanoff is the Coolidge Professor of History at Harvard University. She is the author of three books—"Edge of Empire" (2005), "Liberty’s Exiles" (2011), and "The Dawn Watch" (2017)—which have won accolades including the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Cundill Prize in History, the George Washington Book Prize, and the Windham-Campbell Prize for Non-Fiction. Jasanoff is currently completing a broad-ranging history of the human preoccupation with ancestry. She writes widely about history, literature, and world affairs for publications including The New Yorker and The New York Times.
This event presented by the Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies. It is made possible in part by a generous contribution from Kenneth and Frances Aftel Eisenberg. Additional support from the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies.
| Building: | Michigan Union |
|---|---|
| Event Type: | Lecture / Discussion |
| Tags: | american culture, Graduate, Graduate Students, History, Humanities, Immigration, Interdisciplinary, International, Library, Life Science, Multicultural, Museum, Social Impact, Storytelling, Undergraduate, Writing |
| Source: | Happening @ Michigan from Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies, Department of History |
The Thursday Series is the core of the institute's scholarly program, hosting distinguished guests who examine methodological, analytical, and theoretical issues in the field of history.
The Friday Series consists mostly of panel-style workshops highlighting U-M graduate students. On occasion, events may include lectures, seminars, or other programs presented by visiting scholars.
The insitute also hosts other historical programming, including lectures, film screenings, author appearances, and similar events aimed at a broader public audience.
