The best archaeology-related films in the world are coming to Portland for two weekends this January and you won’t want to miss it! Grab a friend, bring the family and head down to the Fifth Avenue Cinema for four evenings of fun and entertainment. For the final weekend, Jan 19th and 20th, films included in this mini-festival are the best and brightest from The Archaeology Channel International Film Festival 2017, annually held in Eugene, Oregon. This exciting event is a rare glimpse into international culture, language and heritage and its enriching for people from all walks of life. Films featured in this festival range from places such as India, Malaysia, France and more, so take a break from the rain and the mundane and come on down for some educational and family friendly fun. Tickets are $7 at the door

Suicide is an evolutionary puzzle. Most theorists reasonably assume that suicide is a pathology or an unfortunate byproduct of one or several adaptations, but evolutionary theorists also recognize that increasing fitness can entail risks or come at the expense of survival. The bargaining model of suicidal behavior frames non-lethal attempts, which far outnumber completions, as costly signals of need in the face of severe fitness threats. Kristen and her colleagues tested this and other evolutionary models using data from 53 unique cultures. Forced or thwarted marriages, social condemnation, and the victim having committed a transgression were common precursors to lethal and non-lethal suicidal behavior. She will discuss the social conditions that commonly lead to suicidal behavior and how evolutionary theory can help make sense of the tragedy of self-inflicted death.