Spring River Club to study human locomotion at July 4 presentation

Dr. Jason Kennedy, assistant professor of anthropology at Lyon College

What made humans uniquely capable of walking and running upright? That question will take the spotlight tomorrow, July 4, at the Spring River Gem & Mineral Club’s monthly meeting, featuring a presentation by Dr. Jason Kennedy, assistant professor of anthropology at Lyon College.

Kennedy will present “Born to Run: The Evolution of Human Locomotion” at 10 a.m. at the Thunderbird Center, 62 N. Lakeshore Road. His talk will explore how early evolutionary developments — dating back to Miocene apes 22 million years ago — paved the way for the upright posture and endurance running seen in modern humans.

The program will examine both the advantages and trade-offs of bipedalism and highlight how biological adaptations for long-distance running distinguish humans from other primates. Kennedy will also cover evolutionary shifts that occurred with the emergence of modern Homo sapiens.

Kennedy holds a doctorate in anthropology from Binghamton University, SUNY. His research focuses on ancient social systems and the role of food and alcohol in early societies. He describes his path into anthropology as driven by a love of science and history — and a firm dislike of calculus.

Tomorrow’s meeting is open to the public. The Spring River Gem & Mineral Club regularly features in-person presentations from experts in fields such as archaeology, anthropology, mineralogy and paleontology. The club welcomes newcomers, especially those looking to dive deeper into lifelong learning after retirement.

For more information, call or text 870-847-3109.