What’s the Return on ROI? The 213th Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying
Feb 20, 2024
01:30:38
auto_awesome Snipd AI
Topics discussed in this podcast include the binary nature of sex, the value of natural history museums, the importance of liberal arts education, and the impact of closing Duke University's herbarium. They also touch on the evolutionary significance of two sexes and explore the complexities of sex and gender identity.
Read more
AI Summary
Highlights
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Sex is binary, gender is downstream of sex, and rare Disorders of Sexual Development do not negate the sex binary.
Preserving and supporting natural history collections is crucial for biodiversity research and scientific innovation.
Deep dives
Duke University to Shut Down Arboretum and Rehome Specimens
Duke University's Dean has announced the closure of an important arboretum, leading to the relocation of its extensive plant specimens. This decision reflects a larger trend in academia where natural history collections are being considered expendable due to the high cost of real estate and the need for space for new technologies and facilities. This shift has significant consequences, as it hampers access to valuable resources and disrupts the serendipitous interactions between researchers that occur within close proximity to these collections. The news from Duke University serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and supporting natural history collections, despite the challenges universities face in accommodating them.
Value and Importance of Natural History Collections
Natural history collections, including herbaria and museums, hold immense value in the scientific community. These collections provide a unique and irreplaceable record of biodiversity over time and space. They allow researchers to study and understand the changes in species, ecosystems, and environments. By examining specimens and conducting measurements, scientists can ask new questions and discover unknown aspects of biology and evolution. Natural history collections also serve as crossroads of intellectual action, attracting researchers from around the world who contribute to the collective knowledge. Additionally, these collections foster collaboration and the exchange of ideas, creating a broader and more robust intellectual community.
The Threats Facing Natural History Collections
Despite their immense value, natural history collections are facing significant threats and challenges. The reductionist and profit-driven mindset in academia often fails to recognize the importance of these collections, leading to decisions like closing or downsizing herbaria and museums. This disregard for natural history and collections stems from a lack of understanding of their significance, which can hinder scientific progress and innovation. Additionally, the lack of funding and resources can impede the maintenance and growth of these collections, jeopardizing their long-term sustainability. It is crucial for the scientific community and society at large to appreciate and support natural history collections to preserve biodiversity research and ensure the continuation of invaluable scientific pursuits.
In this 213th in a series of live discussions with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying (both PhDs in Biology), we talk about the state of the world through an evolutionary lens.
In this episode, we discuss sex, gender, and plants. First up: sex is binary, gender is downstream of sex, and rare Disorders of Sexual Development do not put the lie to the sex binary. Then: Duke University is deep-sixing its world class herbarium. We discuss the value of natural history museums, and of libraries, and defend the liberal arts and sciences as fundamental not just to human inquiry, but to human flourishing.
*****
Our sponsors:
Sole: Carefully designed, personally moldable footbeds for healthy feet. Go to https://yoursole.com/darkhorse to receive 20% off their new Jasper Chukkas.
Seed: Start a new healthy habit today with Seed probiotics. Use code darkhorse at https://seed.com/darkhorse to get 25% off your first month of Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic.
Moink: Grass-fed and grass-finished beef and lamb, pastured pork and chicken, and wild caught Alaskan salmon. Visit www.moinkbox.com/darkhorse to get a year’s worth of hamburger free when you sign up.
*****
Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com/
Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com
Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://a.co/d/dunx3at
Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org
*****
Mentioned in this episode:
Colin Wright on Eric Weinstein’s appearance on Modern Wisdom: https://x.com/SwipeWright/status/1759718664369050058
Me, She, He, They: Reality vs Identity in the 21st Century (Heather on sex and gender):https://naturalselections.substack.com/p/meshehethey
Duke plans to close its Herbarium, “A tragic mistake”: https://www.science.org/content/article/tragic-mistake-decision-close-duke-university-s-herbarium-triggers-furor
Herman, S.G., 2002. Wildlife biology and natural history: time for a reunion. The Journal of wildlife management66(4): 933-946. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3802927