Comparative Evolution, Infectious Disease and ... Sleep with Dr. Charlie Nunn

The PrimateCast

Send us a text

The PrimateCast has rolled out its mobile podcasting unit once again, this time to cover the joint meetings of the International Primatological Society and American Society for Primatologists held between August 21-27, 2016.
This year's congress was hosted by the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes of Lincoln Park Zoo, and the conference was held at Navy Pier in Chicago, USA.
The PrimateCast On Location at IPS 2016 with Dr. Charlie Nunn
As a practicing primate infectious disease ecologist myself, it was really great for me to get the chance to chat with Dr. Charlie Nunn, who has been asking really big questions in this field over the past decade and a half or so.
Dr. Nunn is a Professor at Duke University's Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, as well as its Global Health Institute. He's also Director of the Triangle Center for Evolutionary Medicine.
Dr. Nunn was at IPS presenting his work in a symposium on the evolution of sleep.
In the interview, Dr. Nunn walks us through his background and how he became interested in the comparative evolution of primate infectious disease. We talk about the Global Mammal Parasite Database - an online repository for published information about parasites infecting mammalian hosts - and how that marvellous idea came about, and how much work it must require to maintain!
We also discuss his more recent work about the evolution of sleep, and why humans might not sleep as much as would be expected for a primate on our branch of the evolutionary tree.
Visit the Nunn lab to find out more about his research into the evolutionary ecology of why we get sick.
We'd like to sincerely thank Dr. Charlie Nunn for joining us on this episode, as well as all of our guests on this series of podcasts from our coverage of the 26th Congress of the International Primatological Society and 39th Congress of the American Society of Primatologists. We look forward to Nairobi 2018.
Photo Credit: Chris Martin / Andrew MacIntosh / Charlie Nunn

The PrimateCast is hosted and produced by Andrew MacIntosh. Artwork by Chris Martin. Music by Andre Goncalves.
Here's what you can do to get in touch!

• Connect with us on Facebook, X, or Instagram
• Subscribe where you get your podcasts
• Email [email protected] with thoughts and comments

If you value the show, leave ratings and reviews wherever it is that you listen, and consider donating by clicking the "Support the Show" link above.

Thanks for being part of The PrimateCast Community!