A journey through the evolution of the human race, from the lessons of the past to the questions of the future

The long-standing collaboration between Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and the International Balzan Prize Foundation has been renewed again this year. Under the patronage of the City of Lugano, the two institutions organise an annual lecture given by a Balzan Prize winner. The guest speaker for 2024 was Professor Jean-Jacques Hublin, a co-founder of the European Society for the Study of Human Evolution and the founder of the Department of Human Evolution at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. He is also a Professor at Collège de France, where he holds the Chair of Palaeoanthropology.

The conference, which took place in the West Campus Lugano Auditorium, focused on the replacement of Neanderthals by Homo sapiens. To provide context for this replacement, the Balzan Prize winner aimed to explain how we should envision the Earth during the Palaeolithic period. "If we consider the disparities among individuals today, they primarily consist of superficial elements such as skin colour, hair colour, or eye colour. The reason for our homogeneity is the presence of a very recent common ancestor," explained Jean-Jacques Hublin. "Millions of years ago, there were many species of hominids around the world. Our species evolved in Africa and later expanded outside, replacing native species in other territories." "A topic that remains highly relevant is that of colonisation and the dominance of one species over another," said Professor Hublin. He then explained the research methods that enabled his team to conduct their studies, sometimes reaching conclusions that dispel common beliefs.

Professor Hublin then answered one of the central questions for a historian: what can events so far back in time teach us? "There are two answers. The first, the serious one, is that they allow us to reflect on the impact humans have on the world, which is a very topical issue. Let's think about the way people transform landscapes. Today, we have talked about the replacement of the Neanderthals, but the discourse could be about any other species. The second answer is that people like to hear stories about their origins."

The Balzan Prize winner, therefore, emphasised the strong link between past and present while remembering to look to the future as well. "Among the main differences that favoured Homo sapiens over Neanderthals is the lower energy consumption by the brain, an invisible but significant distinction. Similarly, today, there is a need to optimise energy consumption and find new sources. This challenge affects all eras in different ways."

Hublin concluded his speech by reflecting on how the evolution of Homo sapiens is continuous and, for the first time, influenced by humans themselves. "We are integrating technology into the human body, such as with microchips and prostheses. This is blurring the line between technological and biological advancements. We have the ability to modify the genome, essentially taking control of our own evolution. This is becoming more common and represents a significant shift in human development."

The meeting was introduced by Luisa Lambertini, Rector of USI, as well as by Laura Laera, Vice-President of the Board of the International Balzan Foundation' Prize' and Roberto Badaracco, Deputy Mayor of the City of Lugano. RSI journalist and populariser of history Jonas Marti spoke as moderator.