CEMinar: Randolph Nesse
"Intrinsically Vulnerable Systems That Natural Selection Can't Fix"
Randolph Nesse will be talking about his research and latest book at this CEMinar. Nesse investigates evolutionary explanations for traits that leave bodies vulnerable to disease. In particular, he studies how selection shapes mechanisms that regulate defenses, especially negative emotions. He is also committed to developing organizational and educational resources for evoltionary medicine.
Before coming to ASU in 2014 Nesse had a long career at the University of Michigan, in the Department of Psychiatry, the Department of Psychology and the Institute for Social Research. He directed the Evolution and Human Adaptation Program there for many years. He is the founding director of the ASU Center for Evolution and Medicine. Center initiatives include producing research that demonstrates the power of evolutionary biology to address problems in medicine and public health, developing new courses, and holding conferences and workshops. Nesse teaches courses in evolution and medicine, as well as evolution and mental health.
His new book, "Good Reasons for Bad Feelings: Insights from the Frontier of Evolutionary Psychiatry" uses many case studeis and the principles of evolutionary medicine to suggest ways to advance psychiatric research and treatment.