Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Team WissensSpuren und MPI EVA
The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI EVA) was founded in 1997. Researchers from over 30 countries and different disciplines work in seven departments. Their common goal is to explore the history of humanity from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Education and Research
The Institute’s scientific departments conduct research across a broad range of disciplines to answer fundamental questions about the history and evolution of humans and other primates.
The Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution, led by Russell Gray, is dedicated to describing and explaining the major patterns of linguistic and cultural variation across the globe. The department develops novel methods of language documentation, global linguistic and cultural databases, and analyses using evolutionary theories and computational methods.
Led by Daniel Haun, the Department of Comparative Cultural Psychology combines approaches from developmental, cross-cultural and comparative psychology, to study uniquely human cultural diversity and the universal cognitive mechanisms that enable and constrain it.
The Department of Human Origins, led by Tracy Kivell, combines new fossil and archaeological discoveries with an interdisciplinary approach to understanding our ancestors’ interactions with past environments. The department aims to trace human evolution by studying early human and African ape fossils, using high-resolution imaging, anatomical analysis, experimental biomechanics and observation of living primates to outline key human behaviours.
The Department of Archaeogenetics, led by Johannes Krause, uses advanced molecular methods to extract valuable data from anthropological and archaeological collections. These samples provide detailed insights into the genetic relationships, geographic origins, selective processes and genetic structure of historical and prehistoric human, plant, animal or pathogen populations.
The Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, led by Richard McElreath, investigates the impact of culture on human evolution and adaptation, with an emphasis on the role of social learning in human adaptation and social diversity. The department combines ethnographic fieldwork with mathematical modelling and advanced quantitative methods.
The Department of Evolutionary Genetics, led by Svante Pääbo, studies the genetic history of humans, apes and other organisms. Scientists in the department are interested in both the forces that act directly on the genome, such as mutation and recombination, and the effects of selection and population history.
Led by Jenny Tung, the Department of Primate Behavior and Evolution integrates organismal views with genetic methods to provide unique insights. The department aims to unravel trends in primate evolution, generate knowledge applicable to human health and primate conservation, and enhance the global capacity for primate research.
The International Max Planck Research School ‘The Leipzig School of Human Origins’ (IMPRS LSHO) is a graduate program of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and the University of Leipzig that brings together different disciplines to study the evolutionary history and origins of humans and other primates.
Outreach
In the foyer of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, a permanent exhibition invites visitors to learn more about the Institute’s interdisciplinary research. In addition, the Institute regularly hosts public events such as lectures and panel discussions on its own research topics and on current topics of social relevance. The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology offers information and training opportunities for pupils, teachers, and other interested individuals, in particular regular guided tours of the Wolfgang Köhler Primate Research Centre (also known as Pongoland) at Leipzig Zoo.