by Join Marius at the Royal Institute for a lecture to mark the anti-centennial of the Second International Eugenics Congress.
A large tree with strong roots, each representing a scientific discipline, is a classic image of eugenics. The accompanying note is clear: ‘Like a tree, eugenics draws its materials from many sources and organizes them into an harmonious entity.’
Join medical historian Marius Turda, as he explores the roots of the pseudoscience of eugenics. He will argue that the longevity of eugenics, is due not just to its promise of drawing together scientific and social theories, but also the credibility it was given by the scientific elite – notably Francis Galton in the 1860s and 1870s.
After the Holocaust, the tree was denuded of its branches, but its roots remained buried deep, embedded in our society, culture and politics. They continued to provide sustenance to various social, economic, and educational policies across the world. Marius will argue that the time has come to cut down this tree and remove its global roots. The personal and collective reckoning with the legacies of eugenics can then begin.
This event is organised in partnership with journalist Angela Saini and the ‘Challenging Pseudoscience’ group at the Royal Institution.
Listen to the recording here – https://pod.link/1573770758/episode/eb89f9eb44698ba55b2669113cfdab6f
