Speakers

Carol Ward is a professor in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences in the School of Medicine at the University of Missouri, where she teaches human anatomy and does research on the evolution of human origins. Her research, based on fossils from East and South Africa, covers a critical time span when Miocene apes were diversifying and ultimately gave rise to early bipedal hominins, or australopithecines. She also works on the anatomy and evolution of early hominins from austalopithecines through Homo erectus. As a functional morphologist she has made major contributions to our understanding of postural and locomotor adaptations in these early hominoids, which were key changes shaping the origins and early evolution of our lineage. She is particularly interested in the functional anatomy of the spines of modern and fossil humans, apes and monkeys, and also applies an evolutionary approach in working with physicians to improve the diagnosis and treatment of modern spinal and other skeletal disorders.

David Frayer is a professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Kansas, and a Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer for 2009–2010. His early work focused on the evolution of European Upper Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic populations, which emphasized that evolution did not stop with the appearance of "modern" Homo sapiens 30,000 years ago. He has devoted significant research effort studying Neandertals and documenting the persistence of Neandertal features in post-Neandertal Europeans; as well investigating behavioral, social and cultural features of these populations (e.g. speech, social patterning, ritual behavior, cannibalism, violence and warfare). More recently his work has broadened to include topics ranging from the Pakistani Neolithic to early Homo in Eritrea and even a critique on Homo floresiensis (otherwise known as the hobbit).

Allan Hook is the Lucian Professor of Natural Sciences at St. Edward's University. Hook, who organized this symposium, has taught at St. Edward's since 1988. His research focuses on the behavior and biodiversity of solitary wasps. Hook holds a BS in Biology from the University of Maine, and an MS in Entomology from the University of Georgia and a PhD in Zoology and Entomology from Colorado State University.