Replacement Anatomy – Oct 9

The human body may be hard to improve, at least from the perspective of modern medical innovation. Still, we try — especially as these wonderful mortal machines start to fall apart. Mary Roach, New York Times bestselling author of Stiff and Fuzz, follows the astonishing evolution of body-part replacement, from sculpting noses of brass to crafting body parts using stem cells & 3-D printing. While such advancements can be lifesavers, they often beg a difficult bioethical question: How and when does a person decide they’d be better off with a prosthesis? Wonderfest joins the Commonwealth Club for a fascinating conversation with Mary Roach as she investigates the moral, medical, and metaphysical implications of remaking ourselves from the inside out.

Two types of tickets are available: in-person and online-only. Pre-register with the Commonwealth Club / World Affairs via the “Tickets” link, below. Use promo code WONDERNAUTS for a $7 ticket discount.

Mary Roach