Experts
Spencer Wells
The National GeoDirector, The Genographic Project
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Dr. Spencer Wells on the Legacy Fund: A New Model for a Big Science Project
Decentralizing science. Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Science & Tech
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Why did humans suddenly start to migrate?
For three-quarters of our history, we lived in Africa. Why did we suddenly start to leave? Read More
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Dr. Spencer Wells Cross-Disciplinary Science and the Genographic Project
Wells discusses the eureka moments provided by paleoclimatology. Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Health & Medicine, Science & Tech
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How can people access the Genographic Project's findings?
The National Geographic portal. Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Health & Medicine, Media & Internet, Science & Tech
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How is technology changing the way you work?
The challenges are not so much technical as cultural, Wells says. Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Science & Tech
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What scientific initiatives would you like to see from the next President?
Scientists need to be better advocates of their work, says Wells. Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Politics & Policy, Science & Tech
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Is genetically modified food safe?
The tests don't go long enough, Wells says. Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Arts & Culture, Science & Tech
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What makes a scientifically literate citizen?
It's important to understand the tremendous impact science has on our lives, says Wells. Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Science & Tech
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What are the risks of access to genetic information?
For now, only the wealthy have access. Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Health & Medicine, Science & Tech
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Whose responsibility is climate change?
It's not something we can solve with a simple technological fix, says Wells. Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Environment
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Dr. Spencer Wells on Future Migration Patterns
Where will be in 10,000 years? We'll all look more like Tiger Woods, says Wells. Read More
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How do people of faith view the Genographic Project?
Unlike faith, science is about asking questions, Wells says. Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Belief, Health & Medicine, Science & Tech
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Dr. Spencer Wells on Losing Indigenous Cultures
We're in a period of mass cultural extinction, Wells says. Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Arts & Culture, Health & Medicine, Science & Tech
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Dr. Spencer Wells on the Genographic Project's First Results
Back from the verge of extinction. Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Health & Medicine, Science & Tech
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Dr. Spencer Wells on Collecting Genetic Data Around the World
Wells uses the latest microbiological techniques to accomplish his genographic mission. Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Health & Medicine, Science & Tech
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Dr. Spencer Wells on the Power of Genographic Data
What does it mean to retrace the steps of a nation of immigrants? Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Health & Medicine, Science & Tech
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What is the Genographic Project?
It's one way to answer a deceptively simple question: where did we come from? Read More
May 3, 2008 | In Health & Medicine, Science & Tech
Spencer Wells is a leading population geneticist and director of the Genographic Project from National Geographic and IBM. His fascination with the past has led the scientist, author, and documentary filmmaker to the farthest reaches of the globe in search of human populations who hold the history of humankind in their DNA. By studying humankind's family tree he hopes to close the gaps in our knowledge of human migration.
Wells's own journey of discovery began as a child whose zeal for history and biology led him to the University of Texas, where he enrolled at age 16, majored in biology, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa three years later. He then pursued his Ph.D. at Harvard University under the tutelage of distinguished evolutionary geneticist Richard Lewontin.
His landmark research findings led to advances in the understanding of the male Y chromosome and its ability to trace ancestral human migration. Wells then returned to academia where, at Oxford University, he served as director of the Population Genetics Research Group of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at Oxford.
Following a stint as head of research for a Massachusetts-based biotechnology company, Wells made the decision in 2001 to focus on communicating scientific discovery through books and documentary films. From that was born The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey, an award-winning book and documentary that aired on PBS in the U.S. and National Geographic Channel internationally. Written and presented by Wells, the film chronicled his globe-circling, DNA-gathering expeditions in 2001-02 and laid the groundwork for the Genographic Project.
