Free admission with limited capacity

Talk with Dawson White. The complex evolutionary history of coca

In connection with the exhibition Khoka Project, this talk explores the complex identity of coca from the perspective of botanical science. Drawing on decades of botanical collections and taxonomic syntheses, postdoctoral researcher Dawson White has used new genomic and analytical methodologies to reveal that the four varieties of coca were created from multiple domestication events carried out by diverse cultures of the Holocene in South America. Given the pluralistic identity and intricate history of the plant, we will learn about his ongoing research that seeks to deepen the understanding of its geographic and temporal origins, integrating botanical, historical, and cultural perspectives, so that we can comprehend the complexity of coca and its enduring significance in present-day cultures.

About Dawson White

Botanist at the Herbaria of Harvard University. He works toward understanding global plant diversity, elucidating the forces that have generated it, and contributing to its conservation. He achieves this through systematic studies in certain plant clades and specific projects to inventory, describe, and conserve the forests of South America. His interest in botany and evolutionary biology has arisen from a life dedicated to exploring nature and a fascination with the diversity and ecological interactions of plants.