Dr. Tom Kraft Dept. of Anthropology, University of Utah https://thomaskraft.weebly.com/ Title: Modeling the dynamics of infectious disease transmission in a small-scale subsistence population Abstract:​​​ Infectious disease dynamics are governed by patterns of contact that vary by geography, social organization, mobility, network structure, and cultural factors. Based on speculation about these parameters in contemporary subsistence populations, […]

Dr. Richard McElreath, Director of the Department of Human Behavior, Ecology, and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Title: The Problem with Cultural Evolution https://www.eva.mpg.de/ecology/index/ Abstract: The field of cultural evolution, like any rapidly growing field, has some pruning to do. In this talk I will outline some problems with the field and suggest […]

Kristine Chua, Postdoctoral Scholar, Integrative Anthropological  Sciences, UCSB ttps://boddylab.com/people/ Title: Using evolutionary and biocultural perspectives in the study of human pregnancy in diverse communities Abstract: Models of the social determinants of health have proliferated in recent years across multiple disciplines. Yet, this surge in the literature within a small timeframe has led to ambiguities. Particularly unclear […]

Dr. Kim Hill, Professor, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University This talk will be presented in person, as well as via Zoom. Dr. Hill will be presenting the Frank Marlowe Memorial Lecture for this year. Human Uniqueness and the flow of goods and services in Samal “sea nomads” of the Philippines […]

Kristine Chua, Postdoctoral Scholar, Integrative Anthropological Sciences, UCSB This talk will be presented live as well as via Zoom. Title: Using Evolutionary and Biocultural Perspectives in the Study of Human Pregnancy in Diverse Communities  Abstract: Models of the social determinants of health have proliferated in recent years across multiple disciplines. Yet, this surge in the literature […]

Dr. John Bunce & Dr. Caissa Revilla Minaya, Culture, Environment and Health Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology https://www.eva.mpg.de/ecology/projects-and-research-groups/culture-environment-and-health-research-group/ Title: Cultural dynamics in an Indigenous Amazonian population: An exploration of intra- and inter-ethnic causal mechanisms  Abstract: For several decades, evolutionary social science theorists have devoted considerable attention to exploring various mechanisms that influence […]

Renee Hagen, Ph.D. Candidate, Dept. of Anthropology, UCLA https://reneehagen.com/ Title: Common behaviors and moral codes: Applying cultural evolution and sexual conflict theory to model the dynamics of social norms Abstract: How do new social norms spread in social groups, and how are norms maintained or change over time?  I will present two studies that investigate these questions […]

Dr. Nicole Thompson-Gonzalez, Assistant Professor, Dept of Integrative Anthropological Sciences, University of California-Santa Barbara http://www.nicolethompsongonzalez.com/ This talk will be presented live as well as via Zoom. Title: Social paths to health and fitness in primates Abstract: Friendly social ties are important means to monopolize resources, buffer risks, and in turn increase health and fitness across […]

Dr. Caroline Schuppli, Max Planck Research Group leader, MPI for Animal Behavior https://www.ab.mpg.de/person/110356/2736 This talk will be presented via Zoom. Title: Skill acquisition and life history: towards a better understanding of cognitive evolution Abstract: Cognitive capacity gets selected for via skills and abilities which provide individuals with fitness benefits. However, strikingly, the larger brained a species is, the more […]

Dr. Laurel Fogarty, Senior Scientist, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology This talk will be presented via Zoom. Cultural rescue: avoiding extinction with gene-culture coevolution.  Abstract: It is often suggested that the adaptability and success of human populations is a direct result of our sophisticated cultural abilities. Previously, we have suggested that in cases where […]