Revolutionary Minds

If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m interested in new ways of thinking, news ways of understanding, new ways of seeing the world. Art, to me, is the ultimate lens through which to see the world. Art is a product of culture and the mystery of the human brain (mind?), so it’s no surprise that a series by SEED Magazine called Revolutionary Minds caught my attention.

It profiles thinkers, writers, and researchers on the vanguard of human knowledge. It’s really interesting in and of itself. You might consider spending some time with this podcast featuring social psychologist Heejung Kim (pictured above) at the University of California at Santa Barbara, who is exploring that finest of fine lines between nature and nurture, and how our culture is not merely a product of our genes, but how our genes, over long stretches of time, might be a product of our culture.

From the magazine: Sorting out the competing yet complementary influences of genes and culture is a problem that has captured the attention of some of the most talented scientific minds. Researchers have looked for genes that influence behavior regardless of cultural context. In her first foray into the world of genetics, social psychologist Heejung Kim is taking a decidedly different approach by examining how culture shapes individuals’ responses to their biological inheritance. In doing so she is creating a profound new framework for how to think about our genetic and cultural backgrounds.

heejung-kim-genetic-accultration.mp3