What can a research-based investigation of what makes human beings, well, human itself tell us – at least in 20-minute bite-sized discussions? Leading anthropologistsshare their perspectives in this Social Science Bites special collection.
Kathelijne Koops on Chimps and Tools
Kathelijne Koops, a biological anthropologist at the University of Zurich, works to determine what makes us human. And she approaches this quest by intensely studying the use of tools by other species across sub-Saharan Africa.
Karin Barber on Verbal Arts
In this Social Science Bites podcast, social anthropologist Karin Barber offers a specific case study of the application of the verbal arts by examining in depth some of the genres common in the Yoruba-speaking areas of Western Africa.
Martha Newson on Identity Fusion
Martha Newson, linked to the universities of Oxford and Kent, describes how fans of football often fuse their own identities into a tightly bonded group (even as they retain their individuality).
Heidi Larson on Vaccine Skepticism
As the toll from the COVID-19 pandemic increased, polling suggests counter-intuitively that resistance to a future vaccine has also risen. Anthropologist Heidi J. Larson identified several likely drivers of this, including scientists themselves.
