Science & Cocktails: Becoming Dad, the Science of Fatherhood + Thaïti

Event in English, semi-seated.
19:30 doors open for cocktails
20:30 Anna Machin (talk)
21:40 Thaïti (live music)

Science & Cocktails is a series of public talks by scientists with live music and smoky dry-ice chilled cocktails in your hand. Anna Machin will talk about the science of fatherhood - what happens when a man becomes a dad? Afterwards, chilled cocktails and live music by Thaïti.

This spring there are more Science & Cocktails talks, check the full program here.

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Becoming Dad: The Science of Fatherhood

Does a man change biologically and psychologically when he becomes a dad? How do dads form their bond with their children? Do dads contribute uniquely to child development? How and why is fatherhood different around the world? Is ‘dad’ only genetically defined?

Human fathers are a rare thing. We are one of only 5% of mammals who have investing fathers, and the only ape. So what is so important about fathers that caused evolution to select for them? In this talk Dr. Anna Machin takes us on a tour of the science and evolution of fatherhood.  She will detail the hormonal and brain changes which help to prepare a man to be a father and explore the different roles that dads adopt around the world to ensure the survival of their children. Dads have a unique role to play in their child’s development and Anna will describe the very special bond that dads build with their children, which is crucially different to any bond they build with mum. But she will also question our narrow definition of dad in the western world and introduce the audience to a wonderful cast of characters, any of whom could be a child’s dad.

The majority of previous studies on human fatherhood is on the effect of the absence of fathers. Moreover, we mostly know about ‘motherhood’ and the assumption of a naturally instinctive bond between mothers and their children. Dr. Anna Machin uniquely points out the biological developments in a man’s body when he becomes a father.

About Anna Machin

Dr. Anna Machin is an evolutionary anthropologist, writer and broadcaster based within the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford. She specialises in the neuroscience, psychology, genetics and evolution of our closest human relationships. Regularly she contributes her scientific knowledge to the print and broadcast media in the UK, Europe and the USA. Anna Machin is the author of the popular science and parenting book ‘The Life of Dad: The Making of the Modern Father’. www.annamachin.com

About Thaïti

The band Thaïti makes spicy danceable worldbeat music influenced by R&B, post-punk and 80s disco. Armed with percussion, synths, vibey vocals and a healthy love for greasy grooves and hooks, Thaïti manages to bring a ‘Gran-Fiesta’ to every stage they go.

Their first mini-LP is set to be released in September. 

This event is an initiative by the Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena (DIEP) with the support of NWA Route 2.

Science & Cocktails Amsterdam is presented in cooperation with Paradiso and acknowledges the support of New Scientist.