More News
September
Jane Buikstra earns Regents' distinction
September 22, 2009
Jane Buikstra, a founding figure in bioarchaeology and paleopathology, is profiled as one of the university's latest Regents' professors.
"Lucy's Legacy" exhibit earns praise
September 17, 2009
L.A. Splash Magazine's worldwide travel editor is promoting Discovery Times Square Exposition's lastest offering through a thorough – and enthusiastic – review of Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia.
Día de los Muertos Exhibit Festival launches final run
September 3, 2009
The ASU Museum of Anthropology will present the last incarnation of its long-running Day of the Dead exhibit festival this fall. Beginning October 12, the museum gallery will be filled with altars and artwork themed around the traditional Mexican holiday.
August
Newland details curatorial project in HALI
August 27, 2009
In "The Story within the Threads," anthropologist and textile historian Judy Newland articulates the creative and physical processes of developing a major exhibit. The ASU Museum of Anthropology exhibit developer's insightful article appears in the latest edition of HALI, the "leading publication in the world for carpets, textiles and Islamic art."
July
Ostrom presents updated way to study complex systems
July 23, 2009
In an essay appearing in the July 24 edition of Science, Elinor Ostrom, founding director of the Center for the Study of Institutional Diversity in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, outlines a revolutionizing framework for analyzing outcomes achieved in social-ecological systems.
Textile historian Newland spotlights Navajo culture, artistry
July 6, 2009
The University of Colorado Museum of Natural History presents a yearlong exhibition of notable contemporary Navajo textiles, thanks to the efforts of ASU Museum of Anthropology exhibit designer Judy Newland.
June
Researchers meet at ASU to discuss H1N1 flu strategies
June 26, 2009
The School of Human Evolution and Social Change's Carlos Castillo-Chavez, a mathematical theoretical biologist, and epidemiologist Gerardo Chowell-Puente are among the ASU faculty organizing a four-day conference that will bring together researchers to evaluate the course of the H1N1 flu virus and possible intervention strategies.
Lucy, Ida fossils headline New York City exhibit
June 19, 2009
The iconic Lucy fossil is headlining the "Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia" exhibit opening June 24 at New York City's new Discovery Times Square. Another important fossil, Ida (Plate B), will be making her public debut alongside Lucy.
Marean weighs in on debate over oldest human art
June 17, 2009
Are pieces of engraved rock from South Africa's Blombos Cave the oldest known examples of human art? Curtis Marean of ASU's Institute of Human Origins provides his take on the current debate.
May
Complex Adaptive Systems Initiative widens its scope
May 14, 2009
ASU School of Human Evolution and Social Change director Sander van der Leeuw will be heading up the Consortium for Biosocial Complex Systems as part of his new role as co-director of the university's ground-breaking Complex Adaptive Systems Initiative.
Read about the 2009 Student Awards and Scholarships recipients!
May 9, 2009
Every spring, high-achieving undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change are granted a variety of prestigious awards, scholarships and research assistantships. This year's winners range from an anthropological geneticist to a Southwestern archaeologist.
ASU participates in international summit on global change
May 7, 2009
A delegation of ASU researchers recently traveled to the United Nations Campus in Bonn, Germany, to participate in the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change.
Buikstra named to National Museum of Natural History board
May 5, 2009
Regents' Professor Jane Buikstra of ASU's School of Human Evolution and Social Change has been tapped for a post on the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History advisory board.
Newest Regents' Professors list includes Buikstra
May 1, 2009
Jane Buikstra, a professor of bioarchaeology in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change and director of the Center for Bioarchaeological Research, is one of five ASU professors named 2009 Regents' Professors.
April
Ceramics exhibits explore the beauty of form
April 24, 2009
Simply Formal and Past Forms come to the ASU Museum of Anthropology this month, shattering attendance records as they highlight the work of several world-renowned ceramics artists, as well as student-curated displays of objects pulled from the collections of the School of Human Evolution and Social Change.
ASU archaeologist earns Dumbarton Oaks Fellowship
April 24, 2009
School of Human Evolution and Social Change archaeologist Barbara Starks has earned a Dumbarton Oaks Pre-Columbian Fellowship, marking the first outside award for the Urban Organization through the Ages project of the university's multidisciplinary Late Lessons from Early History initiative.
Wetmore stresses importance of scientists' communication efforts
April 17, 2009
Science magazine has published a letter titled "Scientists: Listen Up!" co-authored by ASU science and technology studies expert Jameson Wetmore. In the letter, Wetmore and colleagues from the university, the American Meteorological Society and Divine Wind Design discuss the positive real-world changes researchers can bring about through effective communication.
Institute of Human Origins participates in Santa Barbara symposium
April 17, 2009
A group of renowned anthropologists, featuring Institute of Human Origins founding director Donald Johanson, will participate in a human origins symposium at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
Research aims to better south Phoenix health
April 10, 2009
Professor Alexandra Brewis Slade and assistant professor Amber Wutich of ASU's School of Human Evolution and Social Change are part of a multidisciplinary, inter-institutional collaborative charged with understanding and addressing the links between health and community in south Phoenix neighborhoods.
van der Leeuw visits China to promote partnership program expansion
April 10, 2009
School of Human Evolution and Social Change director Sander van der Leeuw recently returned from a trip to China, where he and other ASU faculty and administrators worked to further 3+2 partnership programs.
March
Johanson looks at Lucy's legacy
March 12, 2009
This month, Institute of Human Origins founding director and ASU paleoanthropologist Don Johanson releases a follow-up to his 1981 New York Times bestseller, "Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind." Titled "Lucy's Legacy: The Quest for Human Origins," Johanson's latest tome delves further into the meaning of his world-famous find: Lucy, the 3.2-million-year-old fossilized hominid.
Rock Art Center festival offers something for everyone
March 10, 2009
An agave roast and tasting, interactive stations on archaeology and desert ecology, artists' displays and free guided tours of the petroglyph trail are just some of the features of this year's Rock Art Expo at the Deer Valley Rock Art Center.
Tattoo anthropologist stars in Discovery Channel series
March 10, 2009
ASU grad student and tattoo anthropologist Lars Krutak is getting his own television series. Tattoo Hunter will highlight Lars' adventures traveling to some of the world's most remote locations to document and, in some cases, undergo ancient cultural body modification rituals.
Celebrated paleoanthropologist tells TIME about "Lucy"
March 4, 2009
TIME magazine's Lauren E. Bohn gets the scoop on "Lucy" from her discoverer, Don Johanson.
Johanson guests on NPR's Science Friday
March 3, 2009
ASU's Don Johanson stops by the NPR Science Friday studio to talk with host Ira Flatow about human origins, evolution and his major find: "Lucy," the 3.2-million-year-old hominid.
February
Applied math program produces first graduate, success story
February 26, 2009
Anuj Mubayi holds the distinction of being the first graduate of ASU's Applied Mathematics for the Life and Social Sciences doctoral program. Read about how his cross-disciplinary training equipped him for his current postdoc role at the University of Texas in Arlington and what Anuj is planning for the future.
Latin American art collection finds home at ASU
February 24, 2009
After being displaced by the dissolution of ASU's Center for Latin American Studies, over 300 pieces of artwork from Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador and other Latin American countries have landed safely at ASU's School of Human Evolution and Social Change.
Anthropologist Anne Stone presents at AAAS on genetics and diet
February 13, 2009
Stone participates in a symposium on the evolution of human diets as part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual meeting.
MSNBC reporter talks evolution with ASU's Johanson
February 11, 2009
MSNBC reporter Alan Boyle sits down with ASU paleoanthropologist Don Johanson to discuss Darwin, Johanson's new book and evolution past, present and future.
Early humans had "jaws of steel"
February 3, 2009
An international team of researchers that includes ASU School of Human Evolution and Social Change assistant professor Mark Spencer and doctoral student Caitlin Schrein recently published findings that indicate humans 2.5 million years ago had powerful teeth and jaws to help them adapt to changes in food sources.
January
Researcher explores society-technology relationships
January 23, 2009
Jameson Wetmore of ASU's School of Human Evolution and Social Change and the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes sits down for an interview about his work, his unique background and the book he recently co-edited.
December
Deer Valley Rock Art Center is a "Best of Phoenix" pick
December 30, 2008
The New Times has issued its 30th annual "Best of Phoenix" edition, and ASU's Deer Valley Rock Art Center is one of the winners.
Trophy heads may have been "homegrown"
December 29, 2008
ASU archaeologist Kelly Knudson uses teeth in trophy heads to determine diet, origin of victims.
Arizona Republic features Deer Valley Rock Art Center petroglyphs
December 19, 2008
"Art of the ancients: Deer Valley center preserves, showcases prehistoric petroglyphs" is the front-page feature of the December 19, 2008, Arizona Living: Exploring Arizona section of the Arizona Republic.
Congratulations, graduates!
December 9, 2008
This December the School of Human Evolution and Social Change bestowed undergraduate degrees on 29 students and doctoral degrees on 4.
Anthology looks at technology and society
December 2, 2008
Assistant professor Jameson Wetmore, along with University of Virginia professor Deborah Johnson, has co-edited an anthology on technology studies, published last month by MIT Press.
November
Annual festival at Deer Valley Rock Art Center
November 18, 2008
ASU's museum, archaeological site and nature preserve celebrates American Indian Heritage Month with a free day-long family event featuring song, storytelling, arts and educational opportunities.
Experience Teotihuacan through ASU Museum of Anthropology's podcast
November 18, 2008
In preparation for the traveling exhibit "City Life: Experiencing the World of Teotihuacan," the ASU Museum of Anthropology has created a podcast offering an intriguing look at the ancient metropolis.
Nelson named President's Professor
November 10, 2008
Margaret Nelson, faculty in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change and dean of Barrett, the Honors College, has achieved one of ASU's highest academic titles.
Tattoo researcher preserves history, culture
November 10, 2008
Lars Krutak—archaeologist, cultural anthropologist and doctoral student in ASU's School of Human Evolution and Social Change—is preparing to preserve a millenia-old Philippine tattoo ritual by publishing the first book detailing the Kalinga Batok.
Fulbright students describe Egypt experiences
November 3, 2008
ASU anthropology grad Cara Kiggins is living, learning and teaching in Egypt as she pursues a master's degree in migration and refugee studies at the American University in Cairo.
October
ASU fuses mathematics with social sciences
October 31, 2008
ASU's School of Human Evolution and Social Change launches two new degree programs focusing on applied mathematics for the life and social sciences.
Thompson's research addresses decades-old controversy of Sandia Cave
October 30, 2008
Jessica Thompson, a doctoral candidate in ASU's School of Human Evolution and Social Change, is among the archaeologists attempting to contextualize the ancient finds yielded by New Mexico's Sandia Cave.
Exhibit takes Day of the Dead back to its Aztec roots
October 30, 2008
The latest ASU Museum of Anthropology exhibit brings together artists from the Chicana/o, university and Valley communities to celebrate Día de los Muertos under the theme of Ancient Ofrenda: Elements of an Altar.
Wutich investigates water insecurity-emotional distress link
October 29, 2008
Cultural anthropologists Amber Wutich (Arizona State University) and Katherine Ragsdale (Mississippi State University) recently concluded the first systematic study of intra-community patterns of water insecurity in an urban setting.
Project examines urban residents' vulnerability to heat
October 27, 2008
An interdisciplinary research team led by ASU sociocultural anthropologist Sharon Harlon has received a major National Science Foundation collaborative grant to study how heat affects inner-city residents.
Marean lecture opens Nobel Conference
October 10, 2008
Curtis Marean of ASU's School of Human Evolution and Social Change and Institute of Human Origins gives the kick off lecture at this year's Nobel Conference, held at Gustavus Adolphus College.
Lucy fossil continues to inspire, educate
October 1, 2008
Lucy, the famed Australopith fossil, captivates crowds at Seattle's Pacific Science Center.
September
Nash earns Distinguished Primatologist Award
September 30, 2008
Known for her ground-breaking studies of nocturnal primates and her inspirational work with students, professor Leanne Nash has been selected as this year's Primatologist of the Year by the American Society of Primatologists.
Archaeologist fuses anthropological approaches in migration research
September 30, 2008
School of Human Evolution and Social Change doctoral student Scott Ortman is earning acclaim and winning awards for his pioneering transdisciplinary research.
Anderies named "rising star"
September 29, 2008
J. Marty Anderies, associate professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change and core faculty in the Center for the Study of Institutional Diversity, has been named one of six faculty exemplars by ASU president Michael Crow.
2008-09 AAGS officers elected
September 18, 2008
The Association of All Graduate Students announces its officers for the new school year.
August
ASU Archaeologists figure in sustainability research
August 29, 2008
School of Human Evolution and Social Change archaeologists Katherine Spielmann and Charles Redman are featured in The Christian Science Monitor's "bright green blog" on applying lessons learned from antiquity to sustainablity efforts.
Study Abroad Fair offers unforgettable opportunity
August 29, 2008
Faculty leaders of past, present and future programs discuss the challenges and rewards of study abroad and prepare for the Sept. 10 on-campus Study Abroad Fair.
ASU nature preserve implements innovative recycling program
August 28, 2008
Just in time for National Public Lands Day, ASU's Deer Valley Rock Art Center is going green with a recycling partnership with Abitibi Consolidated Corporation.
Stojanowski makes headlines with discovery of Gobero graveyard in the "green" Sahara
August 14, 2008
ASU's Chris Stojanowski is part of a team making headlines for excavating a massive Stone Age burial site in Niger that dates back to two seperate periods when the Sahara was green and rife with a variety of life.
Deer Valley Rock Art Center wins Nickelodeon's Parents' Pick Award
August 12, 2008
The School of Human Evolution and Social Change's Deer Valley Rock Art Center picks up a major parents' choice award for Best Museum for Little Kids in the Phoenix area.
July
Mathematical & Theoretical Biology Institute: Summer Undergraduate Research Program Colloquium
July 31, 2008
An open reception and day of research presentations highlight the students and projects of ASU's Mathematical & Theoretical Biology Institute.
Research team looks at pandemic flu interventions in nursing homes
July 22, 2008
Mathematical epidemiologist Gerardo Chowell-Puente of ASU's School of Human Evolution and Social Change is part of a research team focused on protecting vulnerable residential care facility residents from pandemic flu outbreaks.
Johanson in the spotlight on Martha's Vineyard
July 11, 2008
Donald Johanson talks about his career, fame and life with Lucy in a Plum TV interview and in the pages of the Vineyard Gazette.
ASU researchers track origins of TB
July 9, 2008
Tuberculosis' timeline is being studied by an interdisciplinary team of ASU reasearchers. Their work suggests that, contrary to popular belief, TB traveled from humans to cattle some 113,000 years ago.
Floodwaters fail to dampen spirits at ASU's Kampsville Field School
July 4, 2008
Jane Buikstra, professor of bioarchaeology in ASU's School of Human Evolution and Social Change and director of the Center for American Archeology, finds extra challenges at the center's summer field school amidst heavy rains and flooding.
June
Harlan addresses urban heat dangers in Arizona Republic article
June 23, 2008
Sharon Harlan, associate professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change and affiliated faculty with the School of Sustainability, outlines the consequences of rising temperatures on urban peoples.
South African publication details Pinnacle Point degredation
June 9, 2008
Port Elizabeth'sThe Herald investigates the damage being done to Pinnacle Point and speculates on the anthropological implications of the area's diminishment. Pinnacle Point has been in the news recently due to ASU paleoanthropologist Curtis Marean and his team uncovering evidence of early humans at the site.
Marean to be Nobel Conference presenter
June 6, 2008
ASU paleontologist Curtis Marean, who made international headlines last year with his discovery of the earliest dated evidence of modern humans, has been selected as a presenter for the 2008 Nobel Conference in October.
Science article reveals threats to Marean's discovery site
June 6, 2008
Last year, in a cave on the South African coastline, ASU paleoanthropologist Curtis Marean and his team made a startling discovery: the earliest dated evidence of modern humans. The find made headlines around the world and spurred anthropologists to rethink their evolutionary ideas. Yet, Marean and other anthropologists who continue to investigate Pinnacle Point—the scene of that remarkable discovery—face a mounting challenge: the site is being damaged by wastewater runoff.
May
Abbott, Anderies and Schwartz earn tenure; Anderies named faculty exemplar
May 21, 2008
Three faculty in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change earn tenure, while associate professor J. Marty Anderies—also associated with the Center for the Study of Institutional Diversity, the Global Institute of Sustainability and the IGERT program in Urban Ecology, as well as being affiliated faculty in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics—is chosen as one of the university's Promotion and Tenure Exemplars.
Penn Museum's Wilton Krogman Award goes to Johanson
May 20, 2008
The Institute of Human Origin's Donald C. Johanson has been tapped by the Penn museum to receive its Wilton Krogman Award for Distinguished Achievement in Biological Anthropology.
Ostrom earns award, honorary doctorate
May 12, 2008
School of Human Evolution and Social Change research professor Elinor Ostrom has been selected to receive the William H. Riker Prize in Political Science. Ostrom, the founding director of the school's Center for the Study of Institutional Diversity, has also been pegged to receive an honorary doctorate from McGill University.
2008 Spring Graduation and Honors Reception
May 12, 2008
Professor and associate director Keith Kintigh played master of ceremonies at the 2008 School of Human Evolution and Social Change Spring Graduation and Honors Reception, which featured student awards and the announcement of a field experience scholarship endowment in memory of alumnus James E. Stowe.
Merbs nabs second award for identifying Revolutionary War hero's remains
May 9, 2008
The American Council for Polish Culture names Merbs as recipient of its 2008 Distinguished Service Award.
April
Science hobbit story features Kimbel
April 25, 2008
Institute of Human Origins paleoanthropologist Bill Kimbel offers his opinion on hobbit find.
Johanson and Lucy share the spotlight
April 22, 2008
The Arizona Republic takes an in-depth look at Donald Johanson's and Lucy's intertwined legacy.
Faculty Achievement Award for Janssen
April 17, 2008
Assistant professor Marco Janssen is recognized for Defining Edge Research, Social Science, as judged by regents' professors in the category.
Alumni Allison & Glowacki quoted in New York Times Science article
April 8, 2008
Two School of Human Evolution and Social Change alumni discuss possible causes for the mass southward migration of the Anasazi.
Smith talks up Aztec math in National Geographic
April 3, 2008
Just in time for tax season, National Geographic takes a look at the specialized mathematics system used by the Aztecs to determine property-based tributes. ASU archaeologist and Aztec specialist Michael E. Smith weighs in on the topic.
March
Janssen receives prestigious NSF CAREER Award
March 28, 2008
Assistant professor Marco Janssen of the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, and associate director of the Center for the Study of Institutional Diversity, is one of the rising stars on ASU's research horizon. A recently awarded NSF CAREER Award is testament to his achievements and his potential.
Merbs honored at Capital Hill ceremony
March 18, 2008
Professor emeritus Charles Merbs is this year's recipient of the Pulaski Award.
Johanson juggling award, press coverage & public engagements
March 8, 2008
The year is off to a busy start for School of Human Evolution and Social Change professor Donald C. Johanson. The eminent paleoanthropologist and director of the Institute of Human Origins is poised to reap a host of accolades.
February
Dual exhibits open at ASU Museum of Anthropology
February 7, 2008
Beginning April 3 and running through Oct. 3, 2008, the ASU Museum of Anthropology will play host to two dynamic exhibits that revolve around identity and culture. Plan a visit to the museum to experience Mosaic: Cultural Identity in America and Fuse: Portraits of Refugee Househoulds in Metropolitan Phoenix.
January
Buikstra awarded for 2 lifetime achievements
January 30, 2008
Jane Buikstra, professor of anthropology and director of ASU's Center for Bioarchaeological Research, is tapped for the Charles Darwin Lifetime Achievement Award and the Physical Anthropology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences' T. Dale Stewart Award.
ASU launches Center for the Study of Institutional Diversity
January 16, 2008
ASU adds a new dimension of cross-disciplinary collaboration to its academic spectrum.
$2.5 million for interdisciplinary initiative: Late Lessons from Early History
January 7, 2008
Backed by the Intellectual Fusion Investment Fund, the Late Lessons from Early History initiative will bring together interdisciplinary teams of researchers to explore the past, present and future of humanity.
2007 News
Chowell-Puente recognized by Poder y Negocios
November 21, 2007
Congratulations to School of Human Evolution and Social Change Assistant Professor Gerardo Chowell-Puente for being included in Poder y Negocios's list of 100 notable Mexican-born professors teaching and working in the United States. Born in Leon Guanajuato, Mexico, and raised in Colima, Chowell-Puente received his Ph.D. in Biometry from Cornell University and was a postdoctoral fellow of the Center for Nonlinear Studies/Mathematical Modeling and Analysis Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The 2002 recipient of Mexico's prestigious Premio Nacional de Juventud (National Youth Prize), he is highly regarded for his work with epidemiological modeling.
Articles detail why conservation efforts often fail
October 25, 2007
In a special feature of nine articles coordinated by ASU professors, a group of distinguished social scientists argue that while many basic conservation strategies are sound, their use often is flawed.
Researchers track human lineage on South African Coast
October 17, 2007
Evidence of early humans living on the coast of South Africa, harvesting food from the sea 164,000 years ago, far earlier than previously documented, is being reported by an international team of researchers including Curtis Marean, a paleoanthropoligist with ASU’s Institute of Human Origins.
