Jane Goodall, the pioneer who shook our idea of what it is to be human

"The Selfish Gene", Richard Dawkins (Veles i Vents, 2026)

This month of September, a classic of 20th-century scientific popularization is being published in our country, The Selfish Gene. Although it has been translated into more than thirty languages, it is only now that we will be able to read it for the first time in Catalan. The work takes Darwin's theory, applies it to genes, and asserts that they are the true fundamental evolutionary unit: we, the individuals, are merely their survival machines. With this idea, the author explores the biological roots of selfishness and altruism to try to unravel the logic that governs the natural world. From the publisher Veles i Vents, with a translation by Oriol Ràfols Grifell and a cover illustrated by Blanca Martí, this edition commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the original publication by including a new epilogue by the author, Richard Dawkins.Pioneer

On October 1st, 2025, dies Jane Goodall

Primatologist, anthropologist and pioneer in the behavioral study of wild chimpanzees. Through her field studies, Goodall demonstrated that chimpanzees had behaviors that, until then, were only attributed to humans. The most important was that these primates constructed and used tools. This challenged the boundary we believed separated us, humans, from the rest of the animals and shook the foundations of the very conception of humanity.At a glance

So far and so close

Jane Goodall already anticipated that humans and the rest of the animals are not as far apart as we sometimes think. Now, comparative genetics proves it to us.

Agenda

Guided tour of the MONA Foundation (Riudellots de la Selva)

Weekends by prior reservation

The MONA Foundation is a rehabilitation center for chimpanzees and macaques that were exploited for entertainment or used as pets. With a common past marked by mistreatment and isolation, the foundation's task is to help them overcome their psychological trauma so that they can, in this way, come to enjoy a dignified life within a community of equals. On weekends, MONA opens its doors to the public to show what their day-to-day life is like at the center. A visit designed for both adults and children, but always with the desire to raise awareness about the importance of protecting nature and wildlife.Anniversary of the Museum of the Miquel Crusafont Catalan Institute of Paleontology (Sabadell)

Sunday, October 4th from 11 am to 2 pm The Miquel Crusafont Catalan Institute of Paleontology (ICP) museum is celebrating its anniversary and wants to share it with all of us. For this reason, it is organizing a day designed for the whole family, the perfect excuse to visit its facilities. On October 4th, the presentation of works for the visual creation contest "66M FC Impossible Signings" begins, open to all ages, which invites us to imagine how a dinosaur moves, what its footprints tell us, and what our impossible signing would be for a soccer team. In addition, they are holding an open house with free activities led by the ICP research team: from gallery talks, lectures, and demonstrations, to a visit to the laboratory and a paleontological reconstruction workshop. More information on the Museum's website. Dialogue table ‘Will we live with soft robots?’ at CaixaForum Tarragona

Tuesday, October 20th at 6:00 PM, with ticket purchase

Times are changing and it is no longer just the animal kingdom that challenges what it means to be human. Hand in hand with emerging soft robotics and stripped of rigid materials, soft robots are presented as more capable, adaptable, and safe machines. But not only that, they also take on a new intelligence unique—at least until now—to living beings: the bodily one. This dialogue, which will seek the active participation of attendees, will be led by Concepción Alicia Monje Micharet and moderated by Román Escudero Cruz.