The American Museum of Natural History is presenting a number of public programs in conjunction with the reopening of the Spitzer Hall of Human Origins, kicking off with two opening day presentations on February 10: Bones, Brains, and DNA and The Neanderthal Question. Co-curator Rob DeSalle will examine both the latest paleontology and genetic evidence relevant to human evolution during Bones, Brains, and DNA, a family presentation based on the new book by the same name aimed at children ages 8 and up. During The Neanderthal Question, co-curators Ian Tattersall and DeSalle team up with several other scientists to debate the controversial premise that ancient humans and Neanderthals might have interbred.

The special programming continues during the year with lectures focusing on our earliest human ancestors, the complex human-machine relationships, and reading DNA. A series of children's workshops encourages youngsters to explore the evidence for human evolution over the past three million years by comparing skull casts of early humans, and offers an opportunity to spend a spring break learning about our ancestors from early primates to hominids.

For more information, visit the Public Programs listings.