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A member of the Australian-Indonesian research team who announced the discovery of Homo floresiensis - known as the ‘hobbit' - will give a free public lecture at The University of Western Australia about the current research on their remarkable find.

An adjunct professor at UWA's Centre for Rock-Art, Professor Mike Morwood's findings are still controversial, with a paper published this month by UWA's Emeritus Professor Charles Oxnard and his colleagues in PLoS ONE set to reignite debate on the ‘hobbit's' origins.  Some scientists have claimed the ‘hobbit' as a new species of human.

Professor Morwood's lecture will describe the work in progress in the Soa Basin of central Flores, and the Walanae Basin of Southwest Sualwesi Indonesia.

WHAT: Public Lecture - Quest for the Hobbit ancestors:  recent research in Flores and Sulawesi, Indonesia by Mike Morwood, Professor of Archaeology, University of Wollongong

WHEN: 6pm, Wednesday, October 13, 2010

WHERE: Social Sciences Lecture Theatre, UWA

This talk will be followed by a public lecture the next day by Robert Layton, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Durham who will speak about current research into how and why art evolved in human culture.

Professor Layton's research interest is in the co-evolution of genes and culture, and in tracing the emergence of modern human forms of social organisation.

Professors Morwood and Layton are visiting UWA as part of an internal research workshop on Western Australian rock art.

Professor Layton, who has contributed extensively to research into Australian rock art, helped prepare a number of Aboriginal land claims, including the claim to the Uluru National Park.

WHAT: Public Lecture - Art and the Evolution of Culture Robert H. Layton, Professor of Anthropology, University of Durham

WHEN: 6pm, Thursday, October 14, 2010

WHERE: Webb Lecture Theatre, Ground Floor, Geography Building, UWA

Both lectures are free and open to the public, no RSVP required.  Hosted by the Institute of Advanced Studies (+61 8) 6488 1340.

Media references

Associate Professor Jane Balme (UWA School of Social and Cultural Studies)  (+61 8)  6488 3825
Sally-Ann Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 7975  /  (+61 4) 20 790 098