About Me

Hello!  I am an evolutionary anthropologist (M.Sc.), freelance science writer, educator, founder of The Advanced Apes, and digital media junkie based in Toronto, Ontario.  My writing and science popularization speciality is in human evolutionary science.  I am focused on exploring the intersection between biological, cultural, and technological evolution and communicating how these processes can help us understand the human past, present, and future.  You can find my official blog, The Ratchet, on Svbtle.  My writing has also appeared in Scientific American Guest Blog, Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, American Humanist, and The People Project.  I am currently writing my first book, with the working title: Civilization Pulse: The Future of Intelligence.

I am also interested in exploring new digital mediums for science popularization.  Currently, I am focused on building an animated educational YouTube channel with PBS Digital Studios, and collaborating with a new digital discussion community: Hubski.  The first video created with the idea of introducing new audiences to ideas and concepts from the world of evolutionary anthropology  (check out the first video!).  However, the first series, On The Shoulders of Giants, will be an exploration of the history of science.  And Hubski is a social network dedicated to promoting thoughtful discussion and is currently integrated with The Advanced Apes website.

In the future I aspire to integrate The Ratchet within a science blog network, expand The Advanced Apes animated YouTube channel, and publish books explaining human existence within an evolutionary framework.  I am interested in collaborating with organizations that are:

1. Involved with science journalism or science audio/video production/education
2. Embracing the current “media shift” into digital mediums
3. Open to experimenting with new ideas

You can find all of my contact information below (email here).

As an aspiring science writer, educator, and popularizer I am also available to write news items, feature articles, conduct or participate in interviews, appear on radio programs or podcasts/videocasts, and speak at high schools, colleges, libraries, museums, or events.  Topics for radio programs, podcast/videocast appearances and pubic presentations include (but are not limited to):

• The last 10 million years of ape and human evolution
• Great ape behaviour/genetics/ecology
• Biological, cultural, and technological evolutionary processes
• Origins of the universe, earth, life, and humanity
• The search for extraterrestrial life
• 21st century human evolution
• Development of civilization (metasystem transitions; globalization)
• Anthropogenic climate change
• The future of humanity
• Deep time

Contact: 

• Email: cadell.last@gmail.com
• Facebook: fb.com/TheAdvancedApes
• Twitter: @cadelllast / @TheAdvancedApes
• Tumblr: theadvancedapes.tumblr.com
• Hubski: theadvancedapes
• More: Google+, LinkedIn, Vizify, About.me, SoundCloud
• My Resume
• My C.V.

Content:

• The Advanced Apes
• The Ratchet (RSS)
• The Advanced Apes Videocast
• The Advanced Apes on YouTube

Featured Articles:

• Are Western Chimpanzees a New Species of Pan? (SciAm)
• Universality of Preadaptation for the Human Condition (SciAm)
• Supervolcanoes in the Ancient World (SciAm)
• Conservation Answers Are In The Genes (Jane Goodall Institute)
• Great Ape and Human Genetic Diversity (Jane Goodall Institute)
• A New Era (Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science)
• Why New Religions? (American Humanist)
• Our Past (And Future) With Supervolcanoes (The Advanced Apes)
• Dear Universe, Sincerely Earth (The Advanced Apes)
• The Sixth Mass Extinction (The Advanced Apes)
• Intelligent Life in the Milky Way (The Advanced Apes)
• No Population Bomb (The Ratchet)
• Beyond Pangaea (The Ratchet)
• Another Earth (The Ratchet)
• Are Humans Monogamous? (The Ratchet)
• 21st Century Neanderthals (The Ratchet)

Featured Podcasts:

Featured YouTube Video:

Field Research:

• Chimpanzee and gorilla ecological field survey.  Lebialem-Mone Forest Landscape, Southwest Province, Cameroon.  July-August 2010; 2011.
• Ring-tailed lemur behavioural and ecological field survey.  St. Catherines Island, Georgia, USA.  July-August 2012. (field diary!)

If you want to know more about my intellectual experience in the field:

• Finding A Home
• Diurnality, Nocturnality, and Cathemerality
• The Evolution of Primate Sleep

Academic Publications:

• Last, C. & Muh, B.  2013.  Effects of human presence on chimpanzee nest location in the Lebialem-Mone Forest Landscape, Southwest Region, Cameroon.  Folia Primatologica, 84: 51-63.
• Last, C.  2013.  Book Review: The 10,000 Year Explosion: How Civilization Accelerated Human Evolution.  vis-a-vis: Explorations of Anthropology, 1-5.

Endorsements:

“The Advanced Apes provides bite-sized lessons on topics connected to evolutionary anthropology that are both informative and entertaining. It is sure to stimulate discussion!” – Dr. Joyce Parga (Professor of Anthropology at University of Toronto)

“The Advanced Apes website and blog provides strong, thoughtful and honest insight into the world of evolutionary biology, with a voice that all can understand and appreciate.  ROM Biodiversity is a big fan of Cadell and his work, and we look forward to collaborating in the future.” – Dave Ireland (Managing Director, ROM Biodiversity)

“The Advanced Apes is a great source for insight into the ideas and implications behind what’s happening in contemporary science.” – Mark Katakowski (Creator of Hubski)

“I used the “Are Chimpanzees Cultural” video in my biological anthropology classes as an introduction to the discussion of culture and primates. “Love the animation” was the resounding response from students. What sets this video apart is the animation supports a clear message about how scientists define and determine culture in non-human primates. These definitions and the behavioral examples were a great springboard for the ensuing discussion.” – Cynthia Bradbury (Professor of Anthropology at Boise State University)

“What I like about The Advanced Apes is that it takes scholarly research and makes it accessible to the general public. They cover topics from the origins of the universe to chimpanzee culture and present them in a dynamic and engaging way. I share their posts, blogs, and podcasts with my Anthropology students on a regular basis.” – Dr. Tracy Prowse (Professor of Anthropology at McMaster University)

“The Advanced Apes shows the best kind of thinking: focused but with a cross-disciplinary perspective, concrete but with an eye on long history. Cadell’s intelligent engagement and enthusiasm make this a pleasure to read, listen to and watch.” – Matthew Pettit (Anthropology PhD Candidate at University of Toronto)

“The Advanced Apes is an in-depth science blog which tackles a vast range of subjects from evolutionary anthropology to space technology; genetics; the environment and my personal favourite – non-human primates.  TAA not only informs readers through the written word but also via social media, and more recently podcasting involving other science contributors.  It aims to communicate difficult and complex issues into a more accessible format for lay readers as well as those already aware of scientific matters at large.  It’s a great platform for visitors who want to join the debate and have their voices heard.” – Asha Tanna (Science Reporter for Channel4 News)

“Cadell Last’s articles are well-researched, timely, thought-provoking, and insightful.  Through his websites, Cadell is making an invaluable contribution to the advancement of education and to the popularization of science, ensuring that scientific writing is more accessible to a wider audience of people.  In a technological era dominated by so many challenging issues, this is truly a laudable achievement.  The more that people participate in this worldwide discussion, the sooner we will be able to craft solutions for a better future.” – Susan Ahn (Co-founder at The People Project)

The Advanced Apes Team:

Illustrated by Alicia Herbert

Alicia Herbert (Professional animator) is an animator, illustrator, and producer for The Advanced Apes.  She designed the official TAA logo, banner, and illustrated the first TAA YouTube video.  She has also worked on various shows like Dex Hamilton, Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That, Ugly Americans, BrickleBerry, and Magic Hockey Skates (CBC Christmas Special 2013). You can contact her at alicia.herbert31@gmail.com.

Drew Hewitt (Audio/video specialist) is responsible with recording and producing The Advanced Apes podcast and videocast.  He has a background in TV Broadcasting and audio production.  You can contact him on Twitter (@HewittDrew) or via email: andrewhewitt87@gmail.com.

Ben Buller (science writer) writes The Advanced Apes blog Forms of Life.  In his blog he focuses on the treatment of science in the popular and academic literature, and on brainstorming interesting facets on the intersection between science and philosophy.  He is also a staff scientist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit MI, where he studies remyelination mechanisms after stroke and other brain injuries.  You can contact him on Hubski (b_b) or via email: ben.a.buller@gmail.com.

Adam Benton (science writer) writes The Advanced Apes blog EvoAnth and participates in The Advanced Apes videocast.  In his blog he attempts to communicate the knowledge evolutionary anthropology has gained to as many people as possible.  He also studies evolutionary anthropology at the University of Liverpool in England.  You contact him through EvoAnth or Twitter (@EvoAnth).

Special thanks to the following for appearing in the podcast/videocast: Scott Rodgerson, Ryan Burke, Travis Steffens, Dr. Jonathan Marks, Matthew Pettit, Hisham Kelati.

My Worldview in Quote Form:

“For me, I am driven by two main philosophies, know more today about the world than I knew yesterday. And along the way, lessen the suffering of others. You’d be surprised how far that gets you.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson (Astrophysicist)

“The purpose of science is not to cure us of our sense of mystery and wonder, but to constantly reinvent and reinvigorate it.” – Robert Sapolsky (Primatologist)

“Science, evolution, anthropology, and history are all on the same side.  The other side is where the anti-intellectuals and ideologues are, and have always been, the ones who either don’t understand evolution themselves, or are knowingly misrepresenting its implications to the public.” – Jonathan Marks (Biological Anthropologist)

“Cosmologists argue about whether the [universe] will end in [a Big Crunch or a Big Rip], but this does not take into account the power of intelligence, as if its emergence were just an entertaining sideshow to the grand celestial mechanics that now rule the universe.” – Ray Kurzweil (Futurist)

“An abstract, intellectual understanding of deep time comes easily enough – I know how many zeroes to place after the 10 when I mean billions. Getting it into the gut is quite another matter. Deep time is so alien that we can really only comprehend it as metaphor.” – Stephen J. Gould (Evolutionary Biologist)

“There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.” – Charles Darwin (Evolutionary Scientist)

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” – Sir Isaac Newton (Physicist)

My inspiration and intellectual perspective in one video:

- Carl Sagan (Astronomer)