Pr. Nina Jablonski, Ph.D
Atherton Professor, Evan Pugh University Professor of Anthropology, Emerita, The Pennsylvania State University, USA
Nina Jablonski is an anthropologist whose research has comprehensively illuminated our knowledge of the evolution of human skin. Her most important contributions have rested on her research on the evolution of the biological and social significance of “naked” human skin, sweating, touch, and skin color.Jablonski’s research on the evolution of skin pigmentation has revealed why dark skin evolved under conditions of high ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in the tropics while lighter skin was favored under conditions of lower UVR nearer the poles. This work led her to write extensively on the fallacy of skin-color-based human races and the harmful effects of racialization on medicine, including the skin sciences, through the persistence of race concepts. She also has a distinguished record of field and laboratory research on the evolution of nonhuman primates. Jablonski received her A.B. in Biology at Bryn Mawr College and a Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Washington. She currently holds the positions of Atherton Professor and Evan Pugh University Professor of Anthropology, Emerita, at The Pennsylvania State University. Jablonski has authored over 200 scientific papers and four books for popular audiences, two of which are for children. She is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and has received a Guggenheim Fellowship. Jablonski received an honorary doctorate from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa in 2010 for her contribution to the worldwide fight against racism. She Jablonski has lectured to many professional and academic audiences around the world, and is a long-standing member of the L’Oréal’s Scientific Advisory Board, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Board.
Abstract
Everything about human skin — from its basic structure and function, to its color and aging characteristics — is the product of evolution. In this lecture, we will explore the spectacular story of the evolution of human skin. This overview will examine the latest evidence on the evolution of the skin's barrier functions, sweating abilities, intrinsic color and tanning properties, and the effects of environmental pollution on skin function and aging. We will discuss how skin specialists of all kinds can deal with the challenges presented by human ongoing genetic admixture and urbanization, and how we can overcome the many problems caused by legacies of colonialism and racism in medicine and skin care. We will see that by understanding the evolution and recent history of skin, we can better appreciate all aspects of this remarkable organ and understand how to treat every individual human more effectively.