Scientia Professor of Evolution
UNSW

Rob Brooks is an evolutionary biologist who studies the conflicting interests that make sex sizzle and render reproduction complicated. As Scientia Professor of Evolution at UNSW in Sydney, Australia, his 2 books and 180+ scientific papers on the behaviour and evolution of human and non-human animals has earned him prestigious fellowships and prizes, including the Australian Academy of Science’s Fenner Medal. His first book, Sex, Genes & Rock 'n' Roll won the Queensland Literary Award for Science Writing and the Eureka Prize for Science Communication. His latest book, Artificial Intimacy: Virtual friends, digital lovers and algorithmic matchmakers, (NewSouth in Aus/NZ; Columbia University Press in USA/Europe) concerns the near-future when our ancient, evolved minds and old-fashioned cultures encounter 21st Century robotics, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence.