Evolution and Spread of the Most Cooperative and Invasive Species: Us

Join Dr. Curtis W. Marean for an exploration of our human origins during this special Leakey Lecture.

Scientists have identified several milestones in the evolution of the way humans find and consume food: increased meat portions, diet diversity, and the transition to food production. These changes have had far-reaching impacts on biological, behavioral, and cultural evolution.

In this talk, Dr. Marean argues for another food-related milestone: the turn toward foraging dense and predictable food resources. This shift in behavior led to elevated levels of group territoriality and conflict, which may have provided the ideal conditions for the evolution of the hyper-cooperative behaviors unique to modern humans.

Speaker: Dr. Curtis W. Marean, Arizona State Univ.