@kevinlala
Evolution; animal behaviour; animal culture; human cognitive evolution; niche construction; anti-racism. Editor-in-Chief of Biological Theory #evolution #evodevo #philbio #philsci #animalculture #animalbehavior
"Evolution Evolving is a landmark book written by stellar scientists who have brought together numerous interesting and relevant examples that show why development matters for evolution."
Thankyou @kampourakisk.bsky.social for your wonderful review in American Biology Teacher. See shorturl.at/2Gso8
I was really happy to participate in the "Innovations in Decolonising the Curriculum" book launch earlier this week. A fantastic event showcasing a really important new book. Congratulations Adeela Shafi, Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal and all the editors and contributors.
www.emerald.com/books/edited...
Evolving Evolution is ... an invitation to think more philosophically about fundamental issues concerning the scope and coherence of evolutionary explanations, idealization in science, causation, organism-environment relationship, and the nature of selection.
Another great review. Thank you Simon
Race is not a biological category: challenging this misconception will help tackle racism in healthcare.
A nice little article by my excellent colleague Jasmeen Kanwal.
doi: doi.org/10.1136/bmj....
I am happy to share this article, entitled "The importance of Biological Theory". It is my inaugural editorial as the new Editor-in-Chief of @biologicaltheory.bsky.social . In these complex and challenging times, theory is more important now than ever. Enjoy!
doi.org/10.1007/s137...
➡️New article out!⬅️
Did Homo Erectus Have a (Vocal) Language?
by Lan Yao & Dong Yao
Free reading link: rdcu.be/eXZwK
➡️New article out!⬅️
The Driving Force of Natural Selection: Maximizing Entropy Production Rates (with an Anonymous Commentary, a Commentary by Rod Swenson, and a Reply by the Author)
by Linbo Wang
Free reading link: rdcu.be/eYaxV
➡️ New article out! ⬅️
Behavioral Modernity, Neanderthals and Homo sapiens: a Case for Concept Retirement
by Anton Killin
Open access: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
'The development of evolution' with @kevinlala.bsky.social
Listen: disi.org/the-developm...
We don't want to end the year without a big thank you to our reviewers.
We couldn't do it without your support!
Find our vol. 20 stars here: rdcu.be/eUOH7
➡️New article out⬅️
The Fate of Behavioral Modernity
by Andra Meneganzin @andrameneganzin.bsky.social
Free reading link: rdcu.be/eUOUH
Anyone who is Editor-in-Chief of a major journal for ten years deserves enormous appreciation for their service to the academic community. Thank you Stuart for your great work.
In episode 1074, I talk with Dr. Kevin Lala (
@kevinlala.bsky.social) about his great book, Evolution Evolving: The Developmental Origins of Adaptation and Biodiversity. #Biology #development #Science
youtu.be/MJK04Wmq7js
➡️New issue out!⬅️
Our special issue on "The Concept of Lineage in Biology" guest edited by Javier Suárez and Matthew Haber is now out.
See everything in the December issue here: link.springer.com/journal/1375...
Innovations in Decolonising the Curriculum: Multidisciplinary Perspectives.
– a new book about how to decolonize the curriculum, by Adeela ahmed Shafi et al.
www.emerald.com/books/edited...
Here is our chapter:
Thanks to Adeela Shafi, @drtwymanghoshal.bsky.social, Acheampong Charles Afriyie, Samuel Copland & Omar El Masri for their hard work in bringing together this excellent collection of articles.
Out today!
Innovations in Decolonising the Curriculum: Multidisciplinary Perspectives.
I am happy (with @kztwyman.bsky.social & Jasmeen Kanwal) to have contributed a chapter – "Teaching the Science of Race and Racism" – to this important book that "moves beyond debate to action"
Please do read.
How and for whom can genetics education reduce beliefs in genetic essentialism? pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41267401/
"We also find that the 3 intervention curricula are highly effective across sociodemographic group characteristics [...] we offer evidence-based strategies for curriculum development"
Picture of front cover of Theme Issue entitled "Transforming cultural evolution research and its application to global futures." The image on the front cover is of a Yao honey hunter in Mozambique holding retrieved honeycomb.
Today sees the publication of the Theme Issue featuring the CES Transformation Fund grant scheme. Enjoy! royalsocietypublishing.org/rstb/issue/3...
@durhamdcerc.bsky.social @durhamanthropology.bsky.social @cultevolfunding.bsky.social @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social
Text from article advocating for transparent recognition of racist past in our disciplines to encourage, not discourage, more diverse engagement.
And this. My experience also supports that being *more* open about racist, sexist, and ableist histories of our fields is more engaging, not less, for students (and faculty) from minoritized backgrounds. Transparency can only enhance rigor.
Stuart Newman
From Jan 1 2026, I take over as Editor-in-Chief of Biological Theory. I would like to thank my predecessor, Stuart Newman, who has done a terrific job for 10 years. That is truly extraordinary service to the community, and the journal is in a great place thanks to his efforts.
Kevin Lala
With great joy—and a touch of nervousness—I’m thrilled to share that my first academic monograph will be published by @mitpress.bsky.social in May 2026! It examines the organism–environment relationship in biology from an integrated #HPS perspective: mitpress.mit.edu/978026205282... #evosky #philsky
Biological Theory is now on Bluesky!
We have a new team of editors and a new editorial board.
We will soon be posting about all our articles.
Find out more about the journal at link.springer.com/journal/13752
I am pleased to announce that from Jan 1 2026 I take over as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Biological Theory. My first act, with the support of the editorial team, is to bring the journal to BlueSky from X.
Please follow us @biologicaltheory.bsky.social. We will be posting about all our articles.
📢 Here is my commentary about the pitfalls of taking an impoverished evolutionary approach to culture, which include 'the limitations of a unidirectional model of evolution' and 'the neglect of niche construction theory'. #ehbea #evolution #psychscisky 🧪
🧵 1/2
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Really interesting paper in PNAS showing that a mutation that protects against African sleeping sickness originates de novo significantly more frequently in Africans than in Europeans, replicating similar findings for sickle-cell. I interpret as developmental bias.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
A great review of my book "Evolution Evolving" by Simon Okholm in Metascience
"Evolving Evolution is no ordinary textbook, and that is part of its appeal, giving the reader a sense of cutting-edge discovery and intellectual adventure"
"Does development matter in evolution?" see shorturl.at/DxuK
📢 Our new article on relationship between height preferences and endorsement of gender norms.📢
We investigated whether adherence to the 'male taller norm' varied according to gender norm attitudes (heterosexual UK-based participants).
🧵1/5
🧪 #ehbea #psychscisky
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
EHBEA is looking for new PRESIDENT and SECRETARY for 2026-2029! 👀
If you know of anybody who could represent EHBEA, nominate them as president!
If you know with good organisational skills, nominate them as secretary!
DEADLINE: 16/12/2026
HERE IS THE FORM 👇
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Upcoming talk by the historian of eugenics Marius Turda!
👉 wienerholocaustlibrary.org/event/findin...
🗓 Tuesday 4th November, 6.30pm, London