Join Cool Science for Science on Tap every 2nd Monday of the month upstairs* at Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub & Restaurant in downtown Colorado Springs. Presenters begin at 6:30 pm and typically speak for 60-90 minutes including Q&A, with food and drink available beginning at 6:00 pm. A wide variety of fascinating topics are presented by local scientists for informal discussion, and the relaxed atmosphere encourages anyone and everyone to come explore the latest ideas in science and technology. From practical to theoretical, the presentations and group interactions provide a fun and interesting way to gain an understanding of the world around us.
* unfortunately there is no elevator
Join Cool Science for Science on Tap every 2nd Monday of the month upstairs* at Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub & Restaurant in downtown Colorado Springs. Presenters begin at 6:30 pm and typically speak for 60-90 minutes including Q&A, with food and drink available beginning at 6:00 pm. A wide variety of fascinating topics are presented by local scientists for informal discussion, and the relaxed atmosphere encourages anyone and everyone to come explore the latest ideas in science and technology. From practical to theoretical, the presentations and group interactions provide a fun and interesting way to gain an understanding of the world around us.
* unfortunately there is no elevator
Next up: Monday, August 10th, 2026 at 6:30 pm.
"Old Friends" in Human Evolution: How parasites shaped our species and what that means for our health
Dr. Tara Cepon Robins, UCCS Department of Anthropology
Summary: Humans and infectious parasites have lived side by side throughout human evolutionary history, engaged in an ongoing rivalry that ultimately shaped our species. Which parasitic species shaped us the most? What aspects of human biology did they shape? And what does it mean for our health now that many of us have lost touch with these "old friends?" Through research conducted in both the Ecuadorian Amazon and the United States, this Science on Tap explores the answers to these questions to show how parasites helped make humans into who we are today.
Dr. Tara Cepon-Robins is a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. As a Human Biologist, she is interested in the effects of lifestyle and environmental change on human health, growth and development, and aging. Specifically, her research explores how social/economic change and environmental variation alter pathogen exposure, contributing to immune system dysregulation, inflammation, and immunoregulatory conditions (e.g., allergies and autoimmunity). She conducts research internationally among the Indigenous Shuar of Amazonian Ecuador and nationally among rural communities in the southeastern United States. Other research interests include Evolutionary Medicine, disgust psychology as a mechanism for pathogen avoidance, and adaptations to extreme environments.
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