Evolutionary science (ES) underpins our ability to predict and manage change in dynamic biological and socio-economic systems and has made many important contributions, especially in simple systems where a single selective force acts on a single agent. It has rescued endangered species, improved crops and livestock, informed strategies to increase resilience to climate change, and slowed the evolution of resistance to control measures in pathogens and pests.

These are examples of manipulating evolvability - the capacity of a system to change adaptively and so remain viable. Understanding evolvability in multilayered, interacting systems remains a challenge, but it is key to understanding innovation and to managing responses to accelerating environmental change. Potential solutions to this challenge - ES theory and tools - have emerged in different sciences but have been largely disconnected.

Join us for a public panel discussion on the role ES has in a changing world, led by representatives from biological and socio-economic domains. 

Sponsored by The Centre for Biodiversity Analysis, ANU, University of Adelaide, University of Sydney and the Australian Academy of Science.