Big Think: Dr. Spencer Wells

I can't get enough of the video series at Big Think featuring Dr. Spencer Wells and his Genographic Project.  Here's a guy who I'd pick to be my professor of anthropology, molecular science, ancient history, and other topics that could use clear yet exciting delivery.

Wells's own journey of discovery began as a child whose zeal for history and biology led him to the University of Texas, where he enrolled at age 16, majored in biology, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa three years later. He then pursued his Ph.D. at Harvard University under the tutelage of distinguished evolutionary geneticist Richard Lewontin. His landmark research findings led to advances in the understanding of the male Y chromosome and its ability to trace ancestral human migration.

All of the topics are intriguing and made more accessible through Wells' evident passion for the subject matters.  Here he talks about how the human population went from the brink of extinction (world poulation: 2,000, all in Africa) to migration and adaptation with development of better tools, art, and language.

Link to video.  Link to bio and video directory.

Photo: Wikipedia