Süßmilch Lecture - hybrid
Eugenics, demography and academia: an ongoing relationship
Rebecca Sear, Brunel University London
Online or at Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, March 25, 2025
As part of the Suessmilch Lecture series, Rebecca Sear, Brunel University London will present on the subject of eugenics, demography and academia: an ongoing relationship.
The event begins at 3 pm CET on March 25, 2025.
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Abstract
Eugenics – the ideology that human populations can be ‘improved’ through policies such as selective reproduction – emerged as a popular political movement in the early 20th century. During this period, academia was instrumental in promoting eugenics, and eugenics was influential in the development of several academic disciplines. Its popularity ostensibly waned during the late 20th century, but eugenic ideology never went away, and is now resurging. In this talk, I briefly consider the historical relationship between the academic discipline of demography and eugenics, but mostly concentrate on the 21st century revival of eugenic ideology. I focus particularly on the issue of scientific racism – the misuse of science to justify racial inequalities and hierarchies. Scientific racism aims to further the ideology that certain people and groups are inferior to others, a fundamental principle of eugenics. I end by discussing how academia can counter this exploitation of the research community for political ends.
About the Speaker
Rebecca Sear © Anne Koerber
Professor Rebecca Sear is Director of the Centre for Culture and Evolution at Brunel University London. She’s an interdisciplinary researcher, drawing on demography, anthropology and evolutionary behavioural science to work on questions of demographic and public health interest. She has particular interests in fertility and child health, and how family relationships influence these outcomes. Recently she has become interested in issues around research integrity and ethics, particularly the resurgence of eugenics and scientific racism in academia. She is co-founder and currently President of the European Human Behaviour and Evolution Association.
Participation
Please register via this survey for online participation. The Zoom link will be sent to you afterwards. The event begins at 3 pm CET on March 25, 2025.