Submitted by D.P. Juan on Mon, 20/11/2023 - 15:38
It was a pleasure to host Apekie Umolu at the Department to celebrate Black History Month! She drew in a large audience, inviting them on a journey to discover the life of Africanus Horton:
"Exploring the short yet productive life of nineteenth-century polymath Africanus Horton, this talk examines the pioneering contributions to the modern world of this scientist, medical doctor, political and educational theorist, financier, soldier, and activist. But his life was not without twists and turns, raising the question: what does it mean to be an “engaged scientist” in today’s world? Not only will we learn about Horton’s immense scientific achievements, we will explore how his work in medicinal botany, health science, general medicine, and medical education helped to shape his political thought as a nationalist and constitutional theorist. There is no denying that in the modern academy, at times it seems as if the sciences couldn’t be farther from the humanities. This in an educational clime that paradoxically champions interdisciplinarity. A dissection of Horton’s life and work will help us to think about the intrinsic interconnectedness of the natural and human sciences, and the opportunities this affords to the budding polymaths of today."
You can find a recording of her talk here: https://youtu.be/D651s66jvC8