Hauntings from A Eugenic Past: Race, Gender, and the Practice of Science, by Banu Subramaniam

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, 5 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room, Neilson Library

Banu Subramaniam is a professor of Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. What do biological theories about plant reproduction, plant biogeography or plant nomenclature have to do with the histories of gender, race or eugenics? In this talk, Subramaniam will trace the genealogies of biological theories to demonstrate how foundational ideas of biology are inextricably connected to eugenics and their foundations. Making a passionate case for interdisciplinary work across the humanities and natural and social sciences, this talk explores how histories of gender and race shape contemporary biological theories and what lessons we can learn about the relationships between natures and cultures.

Subramaniam’s lecture is in conjunction with the Kahn Institute yearlong project Health and Medicine, Culture and Society: Crossroads in a Liberal Arts Education.