The year 2025 marks the centenary of Rupert Riedl, the founding president of the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research (KLI), which itself was established 35 years ago in 1990. Since its inception, the KLI has played a pivotal role in supporting research in theoretical biology. To commemorate this milestone, the KLI hosted a day-long symposium on 16 June 2025, under the theme "What is Theoretical Biology?"
The event commenced with a welcome address by KLI President Philipp Mitteroecker, followed by a keynote lecture from Honorary President Gerd Müller, titled, "Rupert Riedl and the Austrian School of Theoretical Biology." Prof. Müller’s talk provided historical context for the academic environment in which Riedl developed his interest in theoretical biology and introduced key concepts of his theoretical approach to evolution. The symposium featured several distinguished speakers who explored different dimensions of theoretical biology. (Click on title to read more.)
The year 2025 marks the centenary of Rupert Riedl, the founding president of the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research (KLI), which itself was established 35 years ago in 1990. Since its inception, the KLI has played a pivotal role in supporting research in theoretical biology. To commemorate this milestone, the KLI hosted a day-long symposium on 16 June 2025, under the theme "What is Theoretical Biology?"
The event commenced with a welcome address by KLI President Philipp Mitteroecker, followed by a keynote lecture from Honorary President Gerd Müller, titled, "Rupert Riedl and the Austrian School of Theoretical Biology." Prof. Müller’s talk provided historical context for the academic environment in which Riedl developed his interest in theoretical biology and introduced key concepts of his theoretical approach to evolution. The symposium featured several distinguished speakers who explored different dimensions of theoretical biology. (Click on title to read more.)
We are happy to welcome our new Visiting Fellow Emilie Raymer to the KLI. Emilie is a faculty member in the Harvard College Writing Program. She holds a doctorate degree in the history of science and technology from Johns Hopkins University. Her research interests include the development of the life and human sciences, the philosophy of science, epistemology, evolutionary theory, and environmental history. Emilie will be a Visiting Fellow at the KLI from 23 June to 6 July 2025. Her KLI project is titled, ‘The Web of Life: Ecology, Culture, and Reciprocal Evolution.’
We are happy to welcome our new Visiting Fellow Emilie Raymer to the KLI. Emilie is a faculty member in the Harvard College Writing Program. She holds a doctorate degree in the history of science and technology from Johns Hopkins University. Her research interests include the development of the life and human sciences, the philosophy of science, epistemology, evolutionary theory, and environmental history. Emilie will be a Visiting Fellow at the KLI from 23 June to 6 July 2025. Her KLI project is titled, ‘The Web of Life: Ecology, Culture, and Reciprocal Evolution.’
KLI Senior Postdoc Fellow Enrico Petracca, along with James Grayot (University of Porto, Portugal), has contributed a chapter titled, “Mindshaping and the embodiment of rationality” in the recently published volume, The Routledge Handbook of Mindshaping. Mindshaping is described as ‘the complex, diverse, and flexible capacities to shape each other's minds though practices such as ‘sophisticated imitation, pedagogy, conformity to norms, and narrative self-constitution.’ The chapter connects mindshaping with the relatively new research on the embodiment of rationality, the view according to which rational behavior is not only an outcome of brain but of the interaction between brain, body, and environment. (Click on title to read more.)
KLI Senior Postdoc Fellow Enrico Petracca, along with James Grayot (University of Porto, Portugal), has contributed a chapter titled, “Mindshaping and the embodiment of rationality” in the recently published volume, The Routledge Handbook of Mindshaping. Mindshaping is described as ‘the complex, diverse, and flexible capacities to shape each other's minds though practices such as ‘sophisticated imitation, pedagogy, conformity to norms, and narrative self-constitution.’ The chapter connects mindshaping with the relatively new research on the embodiment of rationality, the view according to which rational behavior is not only an outcome of brain but of the interaction between brain, body, and environment. (Click on title to read more.)
KLI Senior Postdoc Fellow Enrico Petracca’s article, ‘Evolution at a Tipping Point’ in the journal Biological Theory, is a review of the book Evolution Evolving (Princeton University Press). The review points out how the book dispels common criticisms levelled at EES, which has over the years variously been accused of dealing with phenomena that are biologically impossible, rare, or of insufficient magnitude. The review also emphasizes how EES sets an inherently interdisciplinary research agenda in evolutionary theory by fostering a programmatic alliance with disciplines considered far from the evolutionary discourse, such as the social sciences and humanities. In Enrico’s words – “the reader (of the book) will feel the rare and invigorating sense of being on the verge of something momentous: the tipping point, at which EES becomes necessary.” (Click on title to read more.)
KLI Senior Postdoc Fellow Enrico Petracca’s article, ‘Evolution at a Tipping Point’ in the journal Biological Theory, is a review of the book Evolution Evolving (Princeton University Press). The review points out how the book dispels common criticisms levelled at EES, which has over the years variously been accused of dealing with phenomena that are biologically impossible, rare, or of insufficient magnitude. The review also emphasizes how EES sets an inherently interdisciplinary research agenda in evolutionary theory by fostering a programmatic alliance with disciplines considered far from the evolutionary discourse, such as the social sciences and humanities. In Enrico’s words – “the reader (of the book) will feel the rare and invigorating sense of being on the verge of something momentous: the tipping point, at which EES becomes necessary.” (Click on title to read more.)
We are very pleased to welcome our new Visiting Fellow Adam Linson to the KLI.
Adam is an Assistant Professor in Computing & Communications at the Open University (UK), where he develops neurobehavioural models of how perceptual uncertainty is resolved under stress and time pressure, in relation to impaired or enhanced cognitive flexibility.
His research interests extends to other fields including cognitive science and music psychology.
Adam is also a music composer and performer, and plays the double bass. He has performed internationally at live concerts and studio recordings, including BBC Radio 3.
Adam will be at the KLI from 17 June to 15 August, 2025. He will also be presenting a talk at the KLI colloquium on 26 June 2025.
We wish Adam a wonderful time at the KLI and in Austria.
We are very pleased to welcome our new Visiting Fellow Adam Linson to the KLI.
Adam is an Assistant Professor in Computing & Communications at the Open University (UK), where he develops neurobehavioural models of how perceptual uncertainty is resolved under stress and time pressure, in relation to impaired or enhanced cognitive flexibility.
His research interests extends to other fields including cognitive science and music psychology.
Adam is also a music composer and performer, and plays the double bass. He has performed internationally at live concerts and studio recordings, including BBC Radio 3.
Adam will be at the KLI from 17 June to 15 August, 2025. He will also be presenting a talk at the KLI colloquium on 26 June 2025.
We wish Adam a wonderful time at the KLI and in Austria.
Merin received this award for her work on asymmetry in the shell morphology of Testudines, the taxonomic order that includes turtles and tortoises. Shell development in Testudines has been known to be influenced by environmental factors, especially pollution, causing structural asymmetry. Using data from pre-industrial museum specimens as well as from online repositories, Merin demonstrated the presence of significant directional and fluctuating asymmetries in Testudines, even in specimens from pre-industrial times.
Merin received this award for her work on asymmetry in the shell morphology of Testudines, the taxonomic order that includes turtles and tortoises. Shell development in Testudines has been known to be influenced by environmental factors, especially pollution, causing structural asymmetry. Using data from pre-industrial museum specimens as well as from online repositories, Merin demonstrated the presence of significant directional and fluctuating asymmetries in Testudines, even in specimens from pre-industrial times.
KLI Senior Post-Doc Fellow Anne Le Maître presented a talk about her work at the Symposium of the Network of French Researchers in Austria, held at the French Embassy in Vienna on 22 May 2025, on the occasion of the France Alumni Day. This event is organised in May and June across the world to bring together alumni of French universities, and celebrate the laureates of research fellowships and scholarships for long stays in France. In her talk, “Evolutionary biology – Evolvability of the ear in primates”, Anne explained how understanding the relationships between ear morphology and primate ecology and behaviour provides insights into more general evolutionary processes related to the capacity for adaptive evolution, namely evolvability. (Click on title to read more.)
KLI Senior Post-Doc Fellow Anne Le Maître presented a talk about her work at the Symposium of the Network of French Researchers in Austria, held at the French Embassy in Vienna on 22 May 2025, on the occasion of the France Alumni Day. This event is organised in May and June across the world to bring together alumni of French universities, and celebrate the laureates of research fellowships and scholarships for long stays in France. In her talk, “Evolutionary biology – Evolvability of the ear in primates”, Anne explained how understanding the relationships between ear morphology and primate ecology and behaviour provides insights into more general evolutionary processes related to the capacity for adaptive evolution, namely evolvability. (Click on title to read more.)
KLI Post-Doc Fellow Somya Mani has been awarded the EMBO Scientific Exchange Grant for her project, “Exploring the role of novel genes in cell-type individuation in the Cnidarian Hydra vulgaris.” With this grant, Somya will be spending three months (Sep-Nov 2025) in Athens, Greece, where she will be working in collaboration with Dr. Nikolaos Vakirlis, Group Leader at the Hellenic Pasteur Institute. Somya's project aims to understand the role of novel genes in regulating and determining the identities of cell-types. Heartiest congratulations to Somya, and best wishes for the project! (Click on title to read more.)
KLI Post-Doc Fellow Somya Mani has been awarded the EMBO Scientific Exchange Grant for her project, “Exploring the role of novel genes in cell-type individuation in the Cnidarian Hydra vulgaris.” With this grant, Somya will be spending three months (Sep-Nov 2025) in Athens, Greece, where she will be working in collaboration with Dr. Nikolaos Vakirlis, Group Leader at the Hellenic Pasteur Institute. Somya's project aims to understand the role of novel genes in regulating and determining the identities of cell-types. Heartiest congratulations to Somya, and best wishes for the project! (Click on title to read more.)
We are happy to welcome our new Senior Post-Doctoral Fellow Mauricio Gonzalez-Forero to the KLI. Mauricio is an evolutionary biologist working at the interface of biology, mathematics, and anthropology. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology in 2006 at the University of Antioquia in Colombia, and his PhD degree in 2013 from the University of Tennessee in the USA. Mauricio has worked as a post-doc researcher at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland (2013-2016), and the University of St Andrew in the UK, first as a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow (2016-2018), and then as a Research Fellow (2018-2024). (Click on title to read more.)
We are happy to welcome our new Senior Post-Doctoral Fellow Mauricio Gonzalez-Forero to the KLI. Mauricio is an evolutionary biologist working at the interface of biology, mathematics, and anthropology. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology in 2006 at the University of Antioquia in Colombia, and his PhD degree in 2013 from the University of Tennessee in the USA. Mauricio has worked as a post-doc researcher at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland (2013-2016), and the University of St Andrew in the UK, first as a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow (2016-2018), and then as a Research Fellow (2018-2024). (Click on title to read more.)
We are very happy to welcome our new Post-Doctoral Fellow Marcelo Domingos de Santis to the KLI. Marcelo is trained in Systematics and Phylogenetics. He received his Ph.D degree in Zoology in 2021 from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and has had Postdoc experiences at the Museu Nacional, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2022-23), and the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels, Bonn, Germany (2023-24). In his current research, Marcelo is interested in exploring new paths to address systematic problems, such as using EvoDevo research in phylogenetics. (Click on title to read more.)
We are very happy to welcome our new Post-Doctoral Fellow Marcelo Domingos de Santis to the KLI. Marcelo is trained in Systematics and Phylogenetics. He received his Ph.D degree in Zoology in 2021 from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and has had Postdoc experiences at the Museu Nacional, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2022-23), and the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels, Bonn, Germany (2023-24). In his current research, Marcelo is interested in exploring new paths to address systematic problems, such as using EvoDevo research in phylogenetics. (Click on title to read more.)
A recent paper in Science by Vagheesh Narasimhan and his team from the University of Texas sheds new light on the 'Obstetrical Dilemma' – the long-debated conflict regarding the optimal pelvic structure for bipedalism and successful childbirth in humans. Christina Berndt of Süddeutsche Zeitung covers this new finding, along with perspectives and insights from international researchers in the field, including Barbara Fischer and Philipp Mitteroecker of the KLI. (Click on the title to continue.)
A recent paper in Science by Vagheesh Narasimhan and his team from the University of Texas sheds new light on the 'Obstetrical Dilemma' – the long-debated conflict regarding the optimal pelvic structure for bipedalism and successful childbirth in humans. Christina Berndt of Süddeutsche Zeitung covers this new finding, along with perspectives and insights from international researchers in the field, including Barbara Fischer and Philipp Mitteroecker of the KLI. (Click on the title to continue.)
We are delighted to have KLI alumna Cristina Villegas join the KLI again, this time as 'Group Leader, Philosophy of the Life Sciences'. Cristina is a philosopher of biology specializing in causal explanations, probabilities and chance in evolutionary biology, with a special focus on evo-devo and evolvability research. She is particularly interested in the intersection between evolutionary developmental biology and evolutionary quantitative genetics, and her work revolves around the epistemological, ontological, and historical aspects of this intersection. We wish Cristina a wonderful new beginning at the KLI! (Click on title to continue...)
We are delighted to have KLI alumna Cristina Villegas join the KLI again, this time as 'Group Leader, Philosophy of the Life Sciences'. Cristina is a philosopher of biology specializing in causal explanations, probabilities and chance in evolutionary biology, with a special focus on evo-devo and evolvability research. She is particularly interested in the intersection between evolutionary developmental biology and evolutionary quantitative genetics, and her work revolves around the epistemological, ontological, and historical aspects of this intersection. We wish Cristina a wonderful new beginning at the KLI! (Click on title to continue...)
