Re-thinking the Relationship Between Organism and Environment

Egenis Annual Lecture (hybrid) with Professor Sonia Sultan (Wesleyan University and Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University) Re-thinking the Relationship Between Organism and Environment Biology has long been dominated by the idea that the features of animals and plants are determined internally, by their genes. Yet thanks to recent research, we now know that gene effects vary depending on environmental conditions. As a result, the development and physiology of individual organisms are profoundly shaped by the environment, often in adaptive ways. Remarkably, conditions during parental and grandparental generations can also play a surprisingly big role. At the same time, by virtue of their presence and activities, organisms change and often improve the environments they inhabit. Drawing on Sultan's work on environmental responses in plants, studies of animal behavior and development, and current research on human health, the lecture will explore the various ways that organisms and their environments construct each other, and the implications for our understanding of natural systems. Date and Time: Wednesday 11 November 2026, 15:30-17:00 GMT Venue: LSI seminar rooms A and B, Streatham Campus, University of Exeter Online: via Zoom