The Institute of Human Origins is one of the preeminent research organizations in the world devoted to the science of human origins
A research center of The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Institute of Human Origins (IHO) pursues an integrative strategy for research and discovery central to our founding mission—bridging social, earth, and life science approaches to the most important questions concerning the course, causes, and timing of events in the human career over deep time.
IHO's strategic vision reaches across traditional disciplinary boundaries to create novel approaches to the solution of pressing and newly emerging scientific questions.
IHO researchers are changing the paradigm of human origins research through—
- Continuing a legacy of high-profile discoveries
- Pursuing how the earliest modern humans evolved before and after the great diaspora out of Africa
- Excavating deep earth cores to examine how global climate affects human evolution
- Exploring the emergence of uniquely human attributes and understanding our species development and its indelible impact on the planet
- Investigating what nonhuman primates tell us about how our ancient ancestors developed cooperative behaviors
- Using DNA research to open new paths to ancient human origins and the genetic bases of primate behavior
IHO also fosters awareness of human origins and its relevance to modern society through innovative outreach programs that provide timely, accurate information for both educators and the general public.
Who we are
What we do
Learn about Lucy
Learn about the Australopithecus afarensis skeleton, "Lucy," discovered in Hadar, Ethiopia on November 24, 1974
Know the facts
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