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Human Evolution and Origins

What does it mean to be human? How did we become “human?” Arizona State University addresses these questions through the study of human origins and human evolution. Faculty and students at the nationally recognized School of Human Evolution and Social Change conduct research inspired by topics that address global challenges, such as humans’ role in environmental crises, understanding health challenges resistant to public health approaches and exploring urban-focused research.The school maintains field stations and laboratories in 11 nations.

Celebrating nearly 40 years of discovery, ASU is home to the Institute of Human Origins, directed by Yohannes Haile-Selassie, one of the world’s foremost experts in paleoanthropology.  With renowned paleontologists  Donald Johanson and Curtis Marean, IHO is the leading research organization devoted to the science of human origins. It pursues a transdisciplinary strategy for field and analytical paleoanthropological research to fulfill its mission of integrating social, earth and life science approaches to the most important questions concerning how humans evolved over time. In 2024, the institute will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of “Lucy” with a “Year for Human Origins."