Connecting the human Past to the global Future
The Institute of Human Origins is at the forefront of paradigm-shifting discoveries and novel approaches to pressing and newly emerging scientific questions about human existence over deep time.
Since 1981, scientists at the institute, housed in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, have been conducting innovative research in paleoanthropology, genetics and human and nonhuman primate cultural evolution.
Videos courtesy of Patrick Fahey, Steven Filmer and Maggie Hoffman.
Engaging future generations of human origins scientists
The Institute of Human Origins is introducing best practices in studying human origins by being all-inclusive and engaging diverse scientists, mentoring students and building on our public-private partnerships in all communities.
Research Focus Areas
High-profile discovery:
Searching for fossil remains of our ancestors, from the beginning of walking on two legs six million years ago to the earliest evidence of our own genus, Homo.
Nonhuman primate behavior:
Investigating what nonhuman primates tell us about how our ancient ancestors developed cooperative behaviors.
Human uniqueness:
Exploring the emergence of uniquely human attributes and understanding our species development and its enduring impact on the planet.
Emergence of modern humans in Africa:
Discoveries that reveal how modern humans dominated the world after the great diaspora out of Africa.
Genetic inquiry:
DNA research opening new paths to understanding the genetic bases of ancient human diseases and primate behavior.
Human adaptations to a changeable planet:
Excavating deep earth cores to examine how global climate change affected human evolution.