Michael Muthukrishna: A Theory of Everyone

2024 Wallace Wurth Lecture

Michael Muthukrishna | Robert Brooks

As UNSW celebrates its 75th birthday, we invite you to the 2024 Wallace Wurth Lecture featuring Michael Muthukrishna in conversation with UNSW Scientia Professor Rob Brooks. In his book A Theory of Everyone, Muthukrishna argues that a better understanding of human behaviour and culture, which are unique to our species, could help us solve the grand challenges of the 21st century.

Working in the emerging field of cultural evolution, Muthukrishna marshals research from anthropology, archaeology, psychology, economics, engineering, evolutionary biology and computer science to create ‘A Theory of Everyone’. By understanding and applying Muthukrishna’s laws of life – energy, innovation, cooperation and evolution – he argues that we can solve the existential challenges we face as a species, such as how can we practically navigate the energy and climate crisis? How can we increase productivity in a period of stagnation? And how have we evolved from a communal and cooperative society to being individualistic?

Muthukrishna will provide a blueprint for a better future that offers a unified theory of human behaviour, culture and society. Join us for an evening of thought-provoking discussion and gain a deeper understanding of what makes us human.

Leighton Hall is located inside the John Niland Scientia Building at UNSW Sydney's Kensington campus. Please note this is a live event only, and will not be available via livestream.

Wheelchair Access

The closest accessible drop off point to Leighton Hall is via Gate 11, Botany Street. More information on getting there can be found via our interactive accessibility map available here.

Assisted Listening

Leighton Hall utilises hearing assistive technology available. Patrons wishing to use this service must collect a Roger™ inductive neck loop receiver from the venue staff, and this system can be used with a hearing aid or cochlear implant with a T-coil, or with headphones.

Auslan & Captioning

Auslan interpreting services and/or live captioning can be provided for selected talks upon request.

Contact

To book and discuss access services, please call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485 or email [email protected].

Leighton Hall (John Niland Scientia Building) is easily accessible via public transport. The closest light rail stop is the UNSW High Street (L2 line) and the closes bus stop is UNSW Gate 14, Barker Street (303). For more information please call the Transport Infoline on 131 500 or visit transportnsw.info.

Free parking is also available in the Botany St Car Park (Gate 11) from 5.30pm. For access to free parking, event patrons must park in the UNSW Permit Holder bays, available on all levels. The Botany St Car Park (Gate 11) parking station is located here.

Paid casual and visitor parking is offered via the CellOPark App and ‘pay by plate meters’ in all other UNSW car parks. For more information head here.

For all enquiries please email [email protected] or call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485.

The Centre for Ideas is happy to receive phone calls via the National Relay Service. TTY users, phone 133 677, then ask for 02 9065 0485. Speak and Listen users, phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 02 9065 0485. Internet relay users, visit relayservice.gov.au, then ask for 02 9065 0485.

Michael Muthukrishna
Michael Muthukrishna is Associate Professor of Economic Psychology, STICERD Developmental Economics Group Affiliate, Data Science Institute Affiliate, and founder of Culturalytik at the London School of Economics. Dr Muthukrishna has won several awards for his research, which integrates a variety of topics, including innovation, corruption, and navigating diversity and cultural differences. He has been invited to speak to companies large and small around the world, governments and NGOs, and at world-leading centres of academic excellence, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford and Oxford.

Dr Muthukrishna makes the science of human and cultural evolution more accessible through animations, videos, documentaries, and other popular media. His research and interviews have appeared in a variety of international and national news outlets including CNN, BBC, Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Scientific American, PBS, Vice, Newsweek, New York Magazine, Nature News, and Science News, and in the UK in the Times, Telegraph, Mirror, Sun, and Guardian. His latest book A Theory of Everyone, published by MIT Press and Penguin Random House, was released in September 2023.

Robert Brooks
Rob Brooks is Professor of Evolution at UNSW Sydney and a popular science author. He has spent his career understanding the complexities and conflicts that sex and reproduction bring to the lives of animals, including human animals. His popular writing explores the murky confluence of culture, economics and biology, and how new technologies interact with our evolved minds and bodies.

He has won the Queensland Literary Award for Science (for his first book Sex, Genes and Rock ‘n’ Roll), and the Eureka Prize for Science Communication. His articles have been published in Psyche, CNN, The Atlantic, The Sydney Morning Herald, Areo, and many other publications. His latest book Artificial Intimacy: Virtual Friends, Digital Lovers, and Algorithmic Matchmakers considers what happens when new technology collides with our ancient ways of making friends, growing intimate, and falling in love.

Event Venue

Leighton Hall, John Niland Scientia Building, UNSW Kensington, Sydney, Australia