Dr. Gerardo Aldana, dean of the UCSB College of Creative Studies, will speak about the connections between Mesoamerican histories, agricultural practices and traditions, and contemporary thinking about histories and futures drawn from Afrofuturism.

Dean Aldana holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley, an M.S. in mechanical engineering from UC Irvine, and an A.M. and Ph.D. in the history of science from Harvard University. His area of research specialization is histories and philosophies of indigenous Mayan sciences, both ancient and contemporary.

Image: Sandy Rodriguez, Tenten In na, Nahua diosa de dioses, goddess of medicine and medicinal herbs, worshipped by physicians, surgeons, phlebotomists and midwives, 2019. Hand-processed watercolor on amate paper, 47 x 31-1/2 in. Collection of the artist. Image: J6 Creative.