Welcome!
The Paleoanthropology Society was founded in 1992. It recognizes that paleoanthropology is multidisciplinary in nature and the organization's central goal is to bring together physical anthropologists, archaeologists, paleontologists, geologists and a range of other researchers whose work has the potential to shed light on hominid behavioral and biological evolution.
The Society has a new Secretary
Dr. John Polk has volunteered to serve as the Paleoanthropology Society Secretary. Since he is the only candidate, a formal election is not necessary. His 3-year term began in June 2022. John is a biological anthropologist who is Director of the Human Biology Program, University at Albany (State University of New York). He can be reached by email at Secretary@paleoanthro.org
Statement on the Transport of Fossils to Sub-Orbit
The Paleoanthropology Society represents scientists focused on the study of human origins and evolution. Human and early hominin fossils are essential to our understanding of the biology of humans and our early relatives. We strongly encourage responsible stewardship and care of these unique, rare and irreplaceable resources for future generations.
We join our partner organization, ESHE, in failing to see any scientific merit in sending fossils (especially Type specimens) on a spaceflight.
We urge all local, administrative and government organizations charged with care of fossil resources, to fully weigh the scientific merits and all potential risks for each proposed use.
Similarly, we encourage science-focused media outlets to focus on scientific results and discovery rather than self-promotion and publicity.
News & Announcements
UC Davis Human Origins Position
The Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Davis invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position focused on evolutionary approaches to understanding the origins of human morphological and/or physiological diversity, by studying changes in the biological characteristics of humans, our living relatives, and/or our fossil relatives and the causes of these changes. Applicants must have completed their Ph.D. by June 2024, have a record of original research and publication, and a clear plan for a continuing program of theoretically-driven research based in field and/or laboratory work. Teaching responsibilities will include 4 quarter-length courses per year, typically one larger lower division class (e.g., Human Evolutionary Biology, Evolution of the Human Life Cycle), two upper division classes, and one graduate seminar. The candidate will supervise graduate and undergraduate student research. Appointment level and salary are commensurate with experience. The expected total salary for this position is $101,000-128,000.
Philipp Mitteroecker is the 2023 recipient of the Rohlf Medal for Excellence in Morphometric Methods and Applications
On October 24, 2023 at Stony Brook University, the seventh Rohlf Medal for Excellence in Morphometric Methods and Applications will be awarded to Philipp Mitteroecker, Professor of Biostatistics and Biometrics in the Department of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Vienna, Austria. Since receiving his Ph.D. in 2007, Mitteroecker's research has spanned a remarkable range of today's biological questions from his broadly biostatistical-morphometric point of view. His contributions combine advances in the foundations of morphometric representations and inferences with applications across a great variety of examples in evolutionary and developmental biology. Recent work incorporates additional types of data (genomics, volume imaging, perceptions of faces) and, lately, one particularly salient bridge between human evolution and public health (the topic of Caesarian section and the ``obstetrical dilemma''). His published work, widely cited in the field, and his appearances in broadcast and online media, have broadened the participation of morphometrics in the biological sciences.
For these reasons, the committee has selected Professor Phillip Mitteroecker as the 2023 Rohlf Medal Recipient.
Registration and Membership Notice
At the Paleoanthropology Society business meeting held in conjunction with the 2023 Portland conference it was agreed to revise the annual dues and meeting registration amounts. Recognizing that membership includes both graduate students with relatively limited financial means as well as more established individuals two levels of fees have been established. Rates for graduate students will remain unchanged. These are $20 for membership and $40 for conference attendance. For PhDs and other “established” individuals these amounts will increase to $40 for membership and $60 for conference participation.