Penn State Penn State: College of the Liberal Arts

Center forHuman Evolution and Diversity

I have experienced a rich tapestry of cultural practices, social norms, and economic realities that inherently underscored the impact of ecological contexts, social dynamics, and power structures on human well-being, and have presented questions about the ways in which biology and culture interact to shape human experience and adaptation. The beauty of human evolutionary science lies in its potential to weave together a transdisciplinary understanding of the remarkable biocultural variation we see in human societies today. To understand human evolution through a broader lens, innovative and interdisciplinary research that actively seeks out and values diverse perspectives will produce a richer and more accurate understanding of what it truly means to be human.

Melina Porro, Department of Anthropology Ph.D. Graduate Student

Historically studies in neuroscience have presented their findings regarding how the brain works as universal to all humans, whereas studies in anthropology have focused on the great cross-cultural diversity in behavior and thought. Furthermore, studies of the human brain and mind are typically conducted with samples that are highly unrepresentative of the global population. Therefore, in order to truly understand the functions of the brain and mind across the spectrum of human diversity, it is necessary to integrate theory and methods from anthropology, psychology and neuroscience.

Elizabeth Losin, Associate Professor of Biobehavioral Health

There is an urgent imperative to unbias human microbiome studies across the diversity of all of us to solve the major challenges relating to health disparities and inequities. More precise and personalized approaches must take into account microbial influences on and responders to our lived experiences. Without a sense of urgency and mission, the generalizability of microbiome findings across populations will be limited and likely generate new cascading health disparities.

Seth Bordenstein, Director of the Microbiome Center, Professor of Biology and Entomology

Reconstructing human ecosystems of the past and their evolution provides not only a window into the past but helps us better plan for the future. We can use information from our ancestors to improve our lives tomorrow.

Laura Weyrich, Associate Professor of Anthropology

Quite simply, the only way we will make meaningful progress in solving “wicked problems” of today and tomorrow is to take a holistic approach, drawing upon both depth and breadth of expertise from multiple disciplines and recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives and experiences.

Jennifer Wagner – Assistant Professor of Law, Policy, and Engineering

One of the strongest evolutionary influences on humans has been largely invisible: microbes. Interdisciplinary approaches that incorporate evolution, microbiology, genetics, physiology, and more are necessary to reveal how we interact with microbes and how these trans-kingdom interactions affect both evolution and health.

Emily Davenport – Assistant Professor of Biology

Our history of conquest, colonization, and massive forced migration has created a profound and long-lasting social and cultural legacy, and these actions also left a genomic legacy. Transdisciplinary research is necessary to fully appreciate human diversity, to combat health inequity, and to advance wellbeing for everyone.

Zachary Szpiech – Assistant Professor of Biology

"Our Center is important for two reasons: 1) There are many interesting questions yet to answer about human evolution and physical, behavioral, and genetic variation, and 2) There seems to be a continuing divide between what anthropologists know and how they think about human evolution and diversity and how the general public and academic colleagues in other fields think about these topics."

Mark Shriver – Director, Professor of Biological Anthropology

"Human beings are products of rich and complex interactions between biology and culture that have developed over millions of years. Human evolutionary history informs our understanding of human behavior and culture, and vice versa. Examining only one side of this set of reciprocal interactions risks missing the plot entirely."

Nina Jablonski – Atherton Professor, Evan Pugh University Professor Emerita of Anthropology

“Bringing together multiple disciplines to understand how people learn and reason about complex topics such as human evolution is important for today’s schools, museums, and other educational settings. The Center offers multiple perspectives of how research in this area is conducted, which will enhance young people’s views of how scientific knowledge is developed and of human diversity.”

Heather Toomey Zimmerman – Associate Professor of Education

"If we are to make any headway in fighting diseases, reducing inequalities and the internecine fighting that appears to emerge so endemically when resources are scarce, values differ, and political approaches conflict, we must utilize multiple approaches, methods, be transdisciplinary and take into account the nature of human diversity, at every level, from our genes to our social identifications."

Peter Hatemi – Professor of Political Science

"For problems ranging from infectious disease to racial tensions in American cities, understanding that evolution matters but that genes are not deterministic and differ in their effects depending on social behavior and environment is a powerful way to better understand and solve many human challenges. Interdisciplinary research holds great promise for using our knowledge of evolution effectively to improve the human condition."

Eric Plutzer – Professor of Political Science

"A transdisciplinary study of human evolution and diversity not only helps us understand how and why we became who we are, it is necessary for determining how we function day-to-day. My research examines the effects of biological and self-reported indicators of daily stress on health. How we experience and respond to daily life challenges is intricately tied to the evolution of human diversity."

David Almeida – Professor of Human Development and Family Studies

The Center for Human Evolution and Diversity (CHED) promotes the transdisciplinary study of the human condition. CHED supports and promotes team-based, explicitly interdisciplinary basic research on the evolution of humans and human diversity, and educational research and outreach related to this research. CHED faculty share a commitment to communicating information about human evolution and diversity in a clear and forthright way that will be meaningful for all people because an appreciation of human history and heritage is conducive to the health and well-being of individuals and society. CHED’s affiliates have diverse intellectual backgrounds and affiliations. CHED issues calls for internal (Penn State-based) grant proposals once a year, in the fall. Penn State faculty interested in learning more about or becoming affiliated with CHED should contact Mark Shriver.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming project ‘If They Only Knew (ITOK)’. This project will be a collaborative community based podcast and educational series.

‘If They Only Knew’

What’s one piece of understanding that could bridge a divide?

We’re gathering perspectives for our project. ‘If They Only Knew,’ exploring what shapes our viewpoints. Share your story with us in a brief interview and help foster greater understanding.

Our project, “If They Only Knew…,” seeks to uncover the experiences and insights that shape our beliefs. Your voice can help others understand what truly drives the diverse points of view, and foster understanding between differing perspectives.

Lend your voice! Please reach out to us for all interview inquires and questions.

Are you feeling a little Anthro-curious?

Check out Tracking Traits – a podcast from Penn State’s Center for Human Evolution and Diversity! Each episode features an undergraduate Penn State student interviewing a scientist who is charting new pathways to understanding human evolution.

Listen here or subscribe now at trackingtraits.buzzsprout.com.