15. Internationale Tagung der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie
15th International Meeting of the Society for Anthropology
Eingeladene Beiträge
Die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft hat die Dringlichkeit der Thematik erkannt und unterstützt die Internationalität der Konferenz durch die Bezuschussung von Gastvorträgen international renommierter Expert:innen. Dies sind die Eingeladenen und ihre Themen:
Invited speakers
The German Research Foundation (DFG) has recognized the urgency of the conference subject and promotes its international reach by providing financial support for guest lectures by renowned experts on the following topics:
Dr. Liina Mansukoski
University of York, England
Applying a whole systems perspective to early life public health interventions –
an opportunity for anthropologists?
In recent years there has been an increasing interest in applying whole systems approaches to public health research. This presentation discusses work conducted by the ActEarly City Collaboratory in Bradford, West Yorkshire and Tower Hamlets, London with local communities, local authorities and other national organisations with the aim to understand how we can help families live healthier and more active lives. The increasing use of such highly contextual and multidisciplinary systems approaches could provide new opportunities for anthropologists to contribute their methodological and theoretical expertise to public health research.
Dr. Christiane Scheffler
Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University Potsdam, Germany
What makes humans tall? – The interaction of socio-economic-political-emotional (SEPE) factors and the endocrine regulation of human growth
Growth is a complex phenomenon that has been studied by nutritionists, economists, paediatric endocrinologists, archaeologists, child psychologists and other experts, particularly in relation to the secular trend of body height gain. However, a unified theory for understanding growth regulation is still lacking. The study shows that the impact of genes and nutrition on body height are overestimated. Human growth of body height is associated with the community, the socio-economic, political and the perceived emotional situation of individuals (SEPE), and also linked to social competition. The emotional perception of the individual’s position in their social, political and economic environment are directly linked to the neuronal networks of the hypothalamus.
Prof. Dr. Ben Krause-Kyora
Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, University Kiel, Germany
From ancient genomes to modern insights: new approaches in anthropology through aDNA studies
Ancient DNA (aDNA) research over the past decade has provided new insights into human evolution, migrations, and disease susceptibility. The reconstruction of ancient pathogen genomes has uncovered the evolutionary history and diversity of diseases, shedding light on their historical prevalence and impact on human populations. A growing field within aDNA research examines immunogenetic variants, emphasizing the role of host-pathogen-environment interactions in shaping current human genetic diversity. This talk will present current directions in aDNA research through examples from the Kiel aDNA lab and highlight new opportunities for anthropological and genetic studies, offering new perspectives on human history and evolution.
Dr. Mario Novak
Sveučilište u Zagrebu, University Zagreb, Croatia
Where do we go from here? Future directions in (bio)archaeology of southeastern Europe
The presentation will discuss a short historical overview, current state and trends as well as future directions and possibilities of bioanthropology (bioarchaeology and paleopathology) in southeastern Europe with a focus on Croatia and the neighbouring countries such as Slovenia and Serbia. The use of novel analytical methods in bioarchaeological research in the region in combination with increased cross-border collaboration on large skeletal assemblages in the recent years allowed for a much better understanding of various biological and social processes occurring in this part of Europe from prehistory till the modern period. Although the lack of funding remains a constant threat, the future of bioarchaeology in the region seems very optimistic and positive.
Dr. Erika Molnar
Szegedi Tudományegyetem, University Szeged, Hungary
The situation of biological anthropology in Hungarian higher education and scientific research – experiences of the past decades and future possibilities
Biological anthropology in Hungary operates under challenging conditions. Currently, only two universities maintain independent departments dedicated to biological anthropology, and there has never been a dedicated undergraduate anthropology program. The national research grant system does not explicitly recognize biological anthropology in its review panels, making it almost impossible to secure funding. Biological anthropology is regarded as a natural science instead of social science. Thus, interdisciplinary cooperations on the national level often require totally different publication and scientometric strategies than international projects. This lecture will reflect on the historical trajectory of biological anthropology in Hungary, explore its current struggles and prospects for the future and highlight the importance of international partnerships in sustaining scientific progress under adverse conditions.
Prof. Dr. Ana Luísa Santos
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
The challenges of biological anthropology/bioarcheology: the Portuguese experience
Establishing a robust academic and research infrastructure in biological anthropology/bioarcheology involves overcoming numerous challenges. Drawing from Portugal’s experience, this presentation discusses the importance of attracting national and international students, maintaining high-quality skeletal collections, and the difficulties in ensuring proper curation conditions. It also addresses challenges in securing funding for projects, scholarships for young researchers, and well-equipped laboratories in a field often not prioritized at institutional and national levels. As this scientific area becomes more technological, national and international collaborations are crucial to access to different and expensive equipment. By sharing experiences, new strategies and solutions may emerge, offering promising opportunities for the future.
