Heidi Colleran's Avatar

Heidi Colleran

@heidicolleran.bsky.social

Anthropologist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. https://www.eva.mpg.de/ecology/staff/heidi-colleran/ Culture | Demography |Reproduction | Population | Existential dread. Humanist and scientist. Writing a book THE FACTS OF LIFE

2,268 Followers  |  736 Following  |  76 Posts  |  Joined: 19.09.2023  |  1.9761

Latest posts by heidicolleran.bsky.social on Bluesky

Preview
A hundred and two just-so stories: exploring the lay evolutionary hypotheses of the manosphere | Evolutionary Human Sciences | Cambridge Core A hundred and two just-so stories: exploring the lay evolutionary hypotheses of the manosphere - Volume 7

'The manosphere’s enthusiasm for evolution goes beyond appropriation and selective interpretation of existing research' New paper by LouisBachaud et al | Evolutionary Human Sciences | Cambridge Core - www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

19.11.2025 10:19 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

So like 99%?

17.11.2025 08:36 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
I Am An AI Hater I am an AI hater. This is considered rude, but I do not care, because I am a hater.

πŸ’―

β€œhow it is at its core a fascist technology rooted in the ideology of supremacy, defined not by its technical features but by its political ones.”

anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/h...

16.11.2025 20:27 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Opinion | James Watson Saw the True Form of DNA. Then It Blinded Him.

β€œgenetic determinism is like astrology. Indeed, Dr. Watson himself once said: β€œWe used to think our fate was in our stars. Now we know, in large measure, our fate is in our genes.””

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/o...

16.11.2025 17:22 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Bourdieusian humblebrag: we got real-desk rejected, not AI-desk rejected

13.11.2025 13:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

I just got sent an β€˜exclusive’ invitation to try out Nature’s new AI β€œresearch assistant”. Hard pass #neoludditeandproudofit

13.11.2025 13:15 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

A central question for any evolutionary research program on humans: what is a population?

23.10.2025 14:59 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

we have to figure out how to act like we are all each other’s makersβ€”because, inevitably, we are

21.09.2025 18:32 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Will America finally treat child care as a public good? Some states are about to find out In November, New Mexico will become the first state to offer free daycare for children as young as 6 weeks. On the other side of the country, child care is a key issue in New York City's mayoral elect...

Childcare is a public good. The return on investment is high (and VERY well-documented). It benefits children, mothers, families, businesses, and the economy.

The lack of a robust childcare infrastructure is a choice the U.S. has made. We could make a different one.

www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/...

15.10.2025 17:45 β€” πŸ‘ 38    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Video thumbnail

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

05.10.2025 09:08 β€” πŸ‘ 38211    πŸ” 17082    πŸ’¬ 820    πŸ“Œ 2410
Cartoon of Darwin holding a copy of the Original, looking into a mirror and seeing as his reflection Malthus holding a copy off his Essay on the Principle of Population. By Tom Dunne for American Scientist.

Cartoon of Darwin holding a copy of the Original, looking into a mirror and seeing as his reflection Malthus holding a copy off his Essay on the Principle of Population. By Tom Dunne for American Scientist.

OTD in 1838, Charles Darwin read Malthus’s Principles of Population β€œfor amusement.”

The idea of a β€œwar of nature” was venerable, but D realized that such a war would tend to remove deleterious variations from populations. Natural selection would necessarily follow.

πŸŒ±πŸ‹πŸ§ͺ#HistSTM #philsci πŸ“ˆπŸ“‰#evolbio

28.09.2025 15:28 β€” πŸ‘ 57    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2
Preview
Assistant Professor Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on: November 2, 2025 If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details. Available Title(s): 270-NN_FACULTY - A...

We're hiring! WSU anthropology is looking to hire a TT Asst Prof in cultural anthropology, with a health, well-being, or human-environment interactions. This is a great dept with friendly folks! CV and cover letter due by 11/2 wsu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/WSU_Jo...

26.09.2025 20:22 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

Abortion bans making pregnancy more dangerous, shaming women for using tylenol, making the world more dangerous for babies: this is all pronatalist because pronatalism is about recreating mandatory childbearing, not making childbearing easier.

22.09.2025 15:14 β€” πŸ‘ 310    πŸ” 91    πŸ’¬ 7    πŸ“Œ 7
Preview
Trump officials unveil highly contentious conclusions on autism Trump claims acetaminophen heightens autism risk when used by pregnant women but studies contradict statement

Oh cool let’s make it even harder for pregnant women to get through their day. Maybe they should all give up working to focus on…..wait a minuteβ€¦πŸ§

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

22.09.2025 21:28 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

An amazing opportunity with great multidisciplinary colleagues in the wonderful pink city of Toulouse

20.09.2025 09:20 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Ugh

19.09.2025 18:27 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Released today!
SEVEN DECADES: HOW WE EVOLVED TO LIVE LONGER
Now available at your favorite bookseller.

Leave a review on Goodreads or Amazon if you can.

Please help spread the word!

#sevendecades @princetonupress.bsky.social

16.09.2025 23:56 β€” πŸ‘ 55    πŸ” 17    πŸ’¬ 7    πŸ“Œ 2
Preview
Seven Decades An anthropologist uncovers new evidence for the evolutionary origins of human longevityβ€”and explains why growing old is an opportunity, not a burden

At @ishe-society.bsky.social, we are looking for someone to review @mgurven.bsky.social new book, "Seven decades" for Human Ethology. It looks terribly interesting! DM/email for details (and to get a hard copy 😊)

@princetonupress.bsky.social

press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

17.09.2025 05:28 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Just got my copy! Congratulations Mike! πŸ₯³

17.09.2025 05:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Bringing mortality back into our understanding of fertility change: revisiting the onset of fertility transitions using net reproduction measures - Journal of Population Research This paper argues for the reintegration of mortality into studies of fertility transition by using net reproduction measures rather than solely focusing on total fertility rates (TFR). Accounting for ...

"paper argues for the reintegration of mortality into studies of fertility transition by using net reproduction measures rather than total fertility rates. Incorporating mortality provides a more nuanced understanding of demographic transitions & has important implications for population policies"

15.09.2025 10:53 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2
Preview
<em>Studies in Family Planning</em> | Population Council Journal | Wiley Online Library This study examines Mexico's fertility transition (1930–2015) and how socioeconomic status (SES), geography, and indigeneity shaped reproductive behaviors. Using net fertilityβ€”the number of surviving...

Unveiling Mexico's Demographic Transitions: "Our spatial analysis reveals a concentric diffusion pattern, where fertility changes spread outward from urban, high-SES municipalities" onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

12.09.2025 19:37 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Haven’t had time for a while, but I still think about Under The Skin, and TΓ‘r - two great female led movies

25.08.2025 18:18 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

An absolute privilege to interview the scientist Sarah Blaffer Hrdy for @hpspodcast.bsky.social
She was so generous & honest in talking about the shifts she had to experience in order to 'see' that men could be expert carers of babies #philsci #hps #fathertime

22.08.2025 23:02 β€” πŸ‘ 27    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 0
Heidi Colleran - EHBEA 2025
YouTube video by European Human Behaviour and Evolution Association Heidi Colleran - EHBEA 2025

Starting the week strong πŸ’ͺ we share now the plenary talk of @heidicolleran.bsky.social, which was part of @ehbea2025.bsky.social

Here, she talks about the misconceptions and the biases behind the idea of β€œnatural fertilityβ€πŸ‘Ά

Pass by, have a look, and stay tuned!

youtu.be/8Ch1t7zpW10?...

25.08.2025 09:01 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

πŸ‘‹ Create links with the IAST community: either with alumni, or with current research fellows...

If you are part of the IAST community and would like to be added to the starter kit, send us a DM! πŸ“© #FriendsOfIAST

πŸ‘‡ Join the conversation ! πŸ‘‡
go.bsky.app/5mQmnLF

01.07.2025 06:37 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image Post image

Even more linguistic-cultural diversity! I am truly grateful for this beautiful experience of fieldwork & learning along with Anja Becker. This is all possible thanks to the hospitality and trust of the community of Dixon Reef, Vanuatu #MULTILING-HIST @erc.europa.eu @heidicolleran.bsky.social

23.08.2025 03:51 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Junior Professorship (non-tenure) in Environmental Anthropology Deadline: 01.10.2025

JOB: come work with me @uni-konstanz.de ! We have a junior professorship to fill from 1 April 2026 (6 years, non-tenured, as funding comes from the Centre for Cultural Inquiry).
The denomination is very timely: Environmental #Anthropology!
Details ⬇️
stellen.uni-konstanz.de/jobposting/2...

#academia

20.08.2025 22:06 β€” πŸ‘ 40    πŸ” 49    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 4
Current Archaeology Britain's favourite archaeology magazine

The last piece associated with the brilliant team effort to rethink aDNA results and social relations in Neolithic Ireland is in this month’s Current Archaeology magazine with an absolutely gorgeous cover image of Newgrange (credit: Ken Williams) archaeology.co.uk

14.08.2025 07:33 β€” πŸ‘ 33    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 4
Post image

Mi hapi tumas mo tenkyu long janis blong wok wetem National Museum mo direktor Kaitip Kami mo wetem Kalja Senta long Vanuatu! Hemia daerekt patnasip wetem tim blong @heidicolleran.bsky.social long MPI-EVA we i gat longfala ekspiriens blong mekem risej long Malekula mo ol narafala ples long Vanuatu.

14.08.2025 04:40 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Malthus’ fear of over-population no longer seemed relevant to
observers who worried about dwindling national strength and
efficiency. The menace of β€˜depopulation’ also became a subject of
medical and scientific study as experts from many different disciplines
explored its causes and consequences. Academic debate about fertility
decline became intertwined with wider concerns about the future of
the family, the nation and the economy which the educated public and
politicians from different parties shared. A haunting sense of
decadence and decay pervaded late nineteenth-century culture and
politics. Alarmists used terms like β€˜sterility’ and β€˜impotence’ to invoke
deep-seated fears about the disastrous consequences of β€˜infecundity’
for great powers in an age of industry and empire. For political leaders
as much as for distinguished intellectuals, the drop in the birthrate
threatened to endanger the nation’s prospects for continued prosperity
and progress.

Malthus’ fear of over-population no longer seemed relevant to observers who worried about dwindling national strength and efficiency. The menace of β€˜depopulation’ also became a subject of medical and scientific study as experts from many different disciplines explored its causes and consequences. Academic debate about fertility decline became intertwined with wider concerns about the future of the family, the nation and the economy which the educated public and politicians from different parties shared. A haunting sense of decadence and decay pervaded late nineteenth-century culture and politics. Alarmists used terms like β€˜sterility’ and β€˜impotence’ to invoke deep-seated fears about the disastrous consequences of β€˜infecundity’ for great powers in an age of industry and empire. For political leaders as much as for distinguished intellectuals, the drop in the birthrate threatened to endanger the nation’s prospects for continued prosperity and progress.

It's time to play, "1900, or 2025?"

From: Maria-Sophia Quine, Population Politics in Twentieth Century Europe (1996).

10.08.2025 15:14 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

@heidicolleran is following 20 prominent accounts