Jennifer Raff, PhD.

Dr. Raff sent me the synopsis today!

"For hundreds of years, Europeans have been trying to insert themselves into Native American prehistory, developing elaborate explanations for how their monumental architecture, art, technology, and even genetic ancestry ought to be attributed to non-Indigenous peoples (whether human, alien, or Sasquatch). I will discuss some of the old and new pseudoscientific hypotheses pertaining to Native Americans, and how the field of anthropological genetics is rapidly demolishing these ideas. I’ll give a brief overview of how ancient DNA research is done, and discuss what is currently known about the genetic prehistory of Native Americans—and why this subject matters in our current political and social climate."

Dr. Jennifer Raff is a Science Communicator and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at UT Austin. Her research is interdisciplinary (see here, https://utexas.academia.edu/JenniferRaff ). She is also a Mixed Martial Artist.

Her blog, violentmetaphors.com, is outstanding. Articles, such as this one ( http://violentmetaphors.com/2014/03/25/parents-you-are-being-lied-to/ ) and this one by her collaborator, Colin, (http://violentmetaphors.com/2014/04/14/the-lies-anti-vaxers-tell-and-why-it-matters/ ) have received multiple accolades.

Even her guess contributors kick ass, check this article about Magical Thinking and Martial Arts, by Jeff Wesfall, http://violentmetaphors.com/2014/02/23/the-dangers-of-magical-thinking-in-the-martial-arts/ see, I told you.

The rumor among the grapevine is the she will become the "Next Big Thing" in the scientific blogosphere. I believe that's the understatement of the year.