Alan Cooper is an Australian Research Council Future Fellow at the University of Adelaide, Australia where he established the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD)
Alan's research interests include the use of ancient and modern genetic data and new analytical approaches to study past climate and environmental changes, mass-extinction events, human migration, evolution and disease, and the tempo and mode of evolution -- across a broad range of timescales and biogeography. His multi-disciplinary focus integrates data from molecular biology, zoology, archaeology, forensics, geology, paleontology, physical dating methods, and climate records.
Current research projects include the impacts of climate change on Ice Age megafauna and reconstructing the evolution and migrations of early human groups, domestic species and diseases. Here he shares the insights into human and technological evolution that are possible through forensic dentistry.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)