Tempo and Mode: Centre for Macroevolution & Macroecology
The Centre for Macroevolution and Macroecology brings together researchers from different departments and centres of the Australian National University, including Biology, Philosophy, Earth Sciences, and Archaeology. It was formed with the aim of fostering interdisciplinary work in macroevolution and macroecology. Meeting regularly allows us to cultivate an appreciation of each others’ points of view and encourage communication by developing a shared language. This provides a platform for productive interdisciplinary collaborations.
What is Tempo and Mode?
The term “tempo and mode” was coined by G. G. Simpson, one of the architects of the modern synthesis of evolution. Simpson drew on observations from palaeontology and genetics to describe the variation in rate of evolution between different lineages and over evolutionary time (tempo) and the mechanisms driving these varying rates of change (mode). We think “tempo and mode” provides a useful description for a broad research program encompassing patterns and mechanisms of biodiversity generation and loss across time, space and lineages.
What do we do?
In addition to regular informal meetings and discussions, we run an occasional seminar series (Tempo & Mode Seminars), in which speakers from a range of disciplines present their research in a way that appeals to a diverse audience. These seminars are advertised through several ANU and CSIRO mailing lists. We also run less formal seminars that give students and others a chance to present ideas, obtain feedback, or practice forthcoming seminars or conference presentations.
Tempo and Mode seminar series: previous speakers
Barry Brook (University of Tasmania)
Richard Duncan (University of Canberra)
Nicholas Matzke (Australian National University)
Shai Meiri (Tel Aviv University)
Dan Rabosky (University of Michigan)
Walter Jetz (Yale University)
Eddie Holmes (University of Sydney)
Daniel Osorio (University of Sussex)
Ben Kerr (University of Washington)
Peter Bennett (University of Kent)
Nicholas Evans (Australian National University)
Ainsley Seago (CSIRO)
Hanna Kokko (University of Helsinki)
Drew Kitchen (University of Iowa)
Kim Sterelny (Australian National University)
Michael Weisberg (University of Pennsylvania)
Charles Marshall (UC Berkeley)
Simon Easteal (Australian National University)
Simon Ho (University of Sydney)
Meg Woolfit (Monash University)
Peter Hiscock (Australian National University)
What is Tempo and Mode?
The term “tempo and mode” was coined by G. G. Simpson, one of the architects of the modern synthesis of evolution. Simpson drew on observations from palaeontology and genetics to describe the variation in rate of evolution between different lineages and over evolutionary time (tempo) and the mechanisms driving these varying rates of change (mode). We think “tempo and mode” provides a useful description for a broad research program encompassing patterns and mechanisms of biodiversity generation and loss across time, space and lineages.
What do we do?
In addition to regular informal meetings and discussions, we run an occasional seminar series (Tempo & Mode Seminars), in which speakers from a range of disciplines present their research in a way that appeals to a diverse audience. These seminars are advertised through several ANU and CSIRO mailing lists. We also run less formal seminars that give students and others a chance to present ideas, obtain feedback, or practice forthcoming seminars or conference presentations.
Tempo and Mode seminar series: previous speakers
Barry Brook (University of Tasmania)
Richard Duncan (University of Canberra)
Nicholas Matzke (Australian National University)
Shai Meiri (Tel Aviv University)
Dan Rabosky (University of Michigan)
Walter Jetz (Yale University)
Eddie Holmes (University of Sydney)
Daniel Osorio (University of Sussex)
Ben Kerr (University of Washington)
Peter Bennett (University of Kent)
Nicholas Evans (Australian National University)
Ainsley Seago (CSIRO)
Hanna Kokko (University of Helsinki)
Drew Kitchen (University of Iowa)
Kim Sterelny (Australian National University)
Michael Weisberg (University of Pennsylvania)
Charles Marshall (UC Berkeley)
Simon Easteal (Australian National University)
Simon Ho (University of Sydney)
Meg Woolfit (Monash University)
Peter Hiscock (Australian National University)