ASU School of Human Evolution and Social Change

08/27/2026

Please join us in welcoming three new faculty members to the School of Human Evolution and Social Change!

Mariam Abazeri, Rose Sommerhauser and Patrick Thomson bring with them years of expertise in water security, climate resilience and primatology.

We are excited to welcome them to the SHESC community and look forward to their contributions in advancing knowledge of the global human experience. 🌍

Read more about their research and career backgrounds at the link in our bio.

08/25/2026

Despite extremely low rates of cardiovascular disease among Tsimane women, a highly active Bolivian forager-horticulturalist community, new research suggests blood pressure shifts may be a shared, universal pattern of the menopause transition.

In a recent study, School of Human Evolution and Social Change researchers examined the relationship between menopause, blood pressure and hypertension among Tsimane women and U.S. women. Findings of the research showed associations between menopause and blood pressure shifts with age in both populations.

“We hope that by showing how menopause may impact blood pressure with age, women and their health care providers can use these results to better understand changes accompanying the menopause transition in the context of these universal patterns," said Madeleine Getz, global health PhD student in the school and lead author of the study.

Photo courtesy of Ben Trumble

08/24/2026

The concept of “food noise” has grown exponentially over the last few years. Google Trends tracking of the term by Cindi SturtzSreetharan, SHESC linguistic anthropologist and President's Professor, found very little interest before 2023, followed by very rapid growth. But what does it even mean?

An international team of researchers, led by Alexandra Brewis, Regents and President’s Professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, examine the conceptual, methodological and ethical considerations of the sudden and rapid rise of the concept of food noise and identify pathways forward to advance research on the concept in a recent journal article.

The effort is part of an ASU-led collaboration across seven countries to understand the lived experiences of new-generation peptide drugs like GLP-1s, expanding in both medical and cosmetic use.

08/17/2026

08/10/2026

Anne Stone, Regents Professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change and director of the Center for Evolution and Medicine, was recently named the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution’s 2026 Lifetime Contribution Award winner.

Stone, an anthropological geneticist, conducts research on the origins, population history and evolution of humans and other primates, as well as the evolutionary history of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, in both modern and ancient contexts. While at ASU, Stone’s lab encountered a major discovery on the transmission of tuberculosis, finding that the disease was brought to the Americas by seals and sea lions, an experience she described as a memorable moment of her career.

The SMBE Lifetime Contribution Award is one of many recognitions Stone has received across her career, including being elected a fellow of the American Advancement of Science in 2011 and elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2016.

Congratulations, Dr. Stone!

Read more about her recognition here:

Throughout her career, Anne Stone, Regents Professor in Arizona State University’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change, has made significant contributions to the field of anthropological genetics. In recognition of her work, Stone recently received the Society for Molecular Biology and Evo...

08/04/2026

Amber Wutich, Regents and President’s Professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss her work on water insecurity and recent election to the National Academy of Sciences.

In the interview, Wutich discussed how society can look back through human history to better understand how to solve issues of water insecurity.

“Arizona is frequently focused as being this, sort of, difficult site for water. But, what people often forget, is that we are historically a site of extraordinary innovation,” Wutich said. “When I fly into the city of Phoenix and I look down at those canal systems that were created by the Hohokam, and still used today, I feel such inspiration.”

Watch here:

Amber Wutich, an ASU professor, has recently been elected into the National Academy of Sciences, an advisory panel for the government.

07/27/2026

How far would an ancient civilization travel for sacred stone?

Researchers from the ASU School of Human Evolution and Social Change found that the volcanic rock used to create Tiwanaku statues was transported more than 25 miles from sacred locations, revealing new insights into the civilization's beliefs and political power.

Learn more: https://news.asu.edu/20260713-science-and-technology-what-origins-stone-sculptures-can-tell-us-about-ancient-andean