Since the nineteenth century many of the 'missing links' between major animal groups have been discovered, especially those connected with breakthroughs into new habitats - like water to land, or earth to air. Fossils also yield surprises: from feathered dinosaurs to unsuspected human side branches. And puzzles remain, such as the cause of the great breakthrough in life's diversity at the base of the Cambrian. Life can best be understood as a series of evolutionary and ecological breakthroughs. But some ecologies seem to emerge 'spontaneously' many times over hundreds of millions of years, so maybe life's history can be seen as a story of 'advancement', or one of replaying similar ecological themes. And is human consciousness part of the same scenario?

Moderation:
Christian Köberl, ÖAW, Uni Wien

Veranstalter:
Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW), Industriellenvereinigung Wien, Wiener Vorlesungen - Dialogforum der Stadt Wien, Österreichische Geologische Gesellschaft


Gesamtprogramm Eduard Suess Lectures [PDF]
Pressetext vom 02.06.2010
Handout [PDF]
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ÖAW eLecture