Department of Anthropology Archives | 91�Թ�� News

91�Թ�� Grad Turns to Anthropology for Flood Mitigation Efforts

Ryan Fox — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:30:39 +0000

When Nilver Tovar-Ospina ’26PhD came to 91�Թ�� to pursue a doctorate in environmental engineering, he expected to continue studying the environmental challenges he had explored in Colombia during his graduate studies. Instead, the Colombian native opened a new avenue of research in 91�Թ��’s .

In Summer 2026, Tovar-Ospina became the first graduate of 91�Թ��’s integrative anthropological sciences doctoral program with a concentration in environmental anthropology. His research in environmental engineering examines how flooding and sea-level rise affect vulnerable communities in South Florida.

Tovar-Ospina found that while high-income, tourist-focused areas received substantial flood-protection infrastructure, historically lower-income communities continued to experience recurrent flooding that, in some places, had persisted for decades. He connected these contemporary disparities to earlier drainage and canalization projects, environmental changes and uneven infrastructure investment.

“Understanding what these communities are experiencing today is essential for developing more equitable risk assessments and adaptation strategies,” he says.

From Colombia to 91�Թ��

Tovar-Ospina’s interest in the field began years ago while working for a company that conducted environmental studies in Neiva, Colombia. His experience evaluating how hydrological companies, construction and projects can impact biodiversity and societies dependent on biodiverse resources deepened his interest in how environmental and social changes affect communities. It prompted him to explore these connections further from home, which led him to the 91�Թ�� Global Intensive English Program and eventually his doctoral program.

Focus of Research

During his doctoral studies, Tovar-Ospina began examining how flooding and sea-level rise affect communities in Miami-Dade County and why flood vulnerability is distributed so unevenly. Through 91�Թ�� Coastal, one of 91�Թ��’s Faculty Cluster Initiatives (FCI), he connected his anthropological research with broader interdisciplinary conversations about coastal vulnerability and climate adaptation.

“I wanted to go beyond conventional flood-risk models and understand how flooding is actually experienced by the people living with it,” Tovar-Ospina says. “That meant combining ethnography and community knowledge with historical research, participatory mapping and GIS to understand not only where flooding occurs, but why vulnerability is so uneven.”

Many flood-prone communities are located in low-income neighborhoods. Nilver says federal responses often serve as temporary measures while communities push for more permanent solutions. (Photo courtesy of Nilver Tovar-Ospina ’26PhD)

Tovar-Ospina’s dissertation, Architectures of Flooding: History, Power, and the Production of Flood Risk in Miami-Dade County, examined flooding not simply as a natural hazard but as a condition shaped by history, infrastructure, environmental transformation and funding. His research combined ethnography, interviews, participant observation, participatory mapping, historical research and GIS to connect residents’ lived experiences with the broader processes that have shaped flood vulnerability across Miami-Dade County.

To his surprise, some communities identified as highly exposed by conventional flood-risk models reported relatively limited experiences with recurrent flooding. Sea walls, coastal barriers and improved drainage systems helped protect some coastal communities, revealing a disconnect between modeled flood exposure and the lived experiences of residents.

Farther inland, Tovar-Ospina found lower-income communities experiencing recurrent flooding, including residents still recovering from hurricanes of the previous years. These experiences showed that elevation or proximity to the coast alone could not explain how flood risk was lived across Miami-Dade County.

Through participatory mapping, residents identified places where they repeatedly experienced flooding, allowing Tovar-Ospina to compare community knowledge with official representations of flood risk. The maps revealed recurrent flooding, drainage problems, mobility disruptions, and household impacts that conventional assessments did not always capture.

“Living with these low-income communities, I learned that residents were often offered ‘palliative solutions’ or short-term responses, like sandbags and water bottles, while they continued to call for longer-term adaptation strategies and infrastructure that could better protect them,” Tovar-Ospina says.

Nilver Tovar-Ospina’s research combines historical flood data with participatory mapping involving impacted community members, an approach that enables researchers to identify areas where mitigation efforts fail to address residents’ experiences. (Photo courtesy of Nilver Tovar-Ospina ’26PhD)

Awards and Accolades

Over the course of his doctoral program, Tovar-Ospina built an exceptional record of research and scholarship, receiving recognition at the university, national and international levels.

In 2026, his peer-reviewed article, “Tangible and Intangible Impacts of Flooding in Miami-Dade County: A Human-Centered Analysis,” was published in Human Ecology. He also received a Judges’ Choice Award at 91�Թ��’s 2026 Student Scholar Symposium and the Best Paper Presentation Award at the International Conference on Environmental Anthropology and Sustainability in Paris.

During his doctoral studies, Nilver Tovar-Ospina presented his research at conferences and scholarly events in the United States and abroad, helping bring discussions and awareness of flooding, climate adaptation and community resilience to academic audiences across the world. (Photo courtesy of Nilver Tovar-Ospina ’26PhD)

Among his other recent accomplishments, he received the 2026 Laura Bassi Scholarship for his book manuscript, Architectures of Flooding: Unequal Ground in a Drowning County and was selected as one of nine international participants for the 2025 Climate Politics and Autocratization Conference at the University of Bergen in Norway.

A Pathway to Strengthen Florida’s Coastal Communities

Tovar-Ospina hopes his work will help direct greater attention and resources to those most affected.

“Communities need to be included in discussions, studies and assessments when developing climate-related policies to ensure their concerns are understood and addressed,” he says.

Tovar-Ospina also feels proud for paving the path for future students who are interested in environmental anthropology at 91�Թ��.

“Florida and other coastal areas have been affected by hurricanes and flooding,” he says. “We need more environmental anthropologists to ensure the knowledge and experiences of the most impacted communities are part of how these challenges are understood and addressed.”

New Study Explores How Governance Has Evolved Across History

Emily Dougherty — Thu, 21 May 2026 13:38:07 +0000

A newly published study in is taking a broader look at how societies have organized power across history, combining archaeological and historical evidence to better understand governance over time.

Coauthor Sarah “Stacy” Barber, professor and associate chair for 91�Թ��’s , says the project was driven in part by the growing availability of archaeological data and a need to think more expansively about human history.

“Archaeology has been a scientific area of study for about a century, so we now have 100 years of aggregate data about ancient societies,” Barber says.

She explains that many past societies are often excluded from research because they did not leave behind written records the way most European, South Asian and East Asian societies did. Incorporating archaeological evidence ensures that the interpretation of ancient governance is not limited to societies with written history but instead allows for the reflection of an array of human experience.

Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Anthropology, Stacy Barber.

“When we forget about huge swaths of our past, we are weakening our ability to make decisions in the present, so anything that broadens our knowledge of how people can be people is a good thing,” Barber says. “It opens paths to other options that may be more sustainable or more just in the future.”

Challenging Assumptions About Power

One of the study’s key findings challenges the assumption that population size determines how power is organized.

Although very densely populated societies are more likely to align with an autocracy — one person ruling with absolute power — Barber says the study found there are other options for managing large populations that do not require autocratic governance.

Instead, access to resources and funding play a more critical role in shaping governance structures.

“When the governing entities are relying on funding that comes from taxation and the general population, the population is going to have more influence in governing decisions, and leaders are constrained in how they can decide to use those resources,” she says.

The study also points to a connection between governance and potential for imbalance.

“The less your governing regime has to answer to the populace, the more your governing regime can amass wealth for its own interests as opposed to the interests of everyone,” Barber says.

Stacy Barber (fourth from left) with fellow researchers at the Amerind Museum and Research Center in Dragoon, Arizona.

Expanding the Definition of Governance

The study approaches governance as a spectrum rather than a set of fixed categories, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of how societies function and the wide range of ways that humans organize themselves. To analyze governance across societies, the research team developed an index focused on two key factors: how concentrated power is and how much of the population is involved in decision making.

“We broke it down in terms of how many individuals or entities were involved in making decisions for a general population, and what proportion of the population was involved or had a voice in governing decisions,” Barber says.

Looking Ahead

Barber says the team’s plans for future research could expand the number of cases studied to determine whether findings shift as more societies from additional world regions are included.

More broadly, she says the work creates space for scholars to revisit fundamental ideas about governance.

“This research offers opportunities for scholars across the social sciences to reconsider what we mean by ‘democracy’ and to try and refine our understanding of how different aspects of governance affect the well-being of everyday citizens,” she says. “We have the choice to reframe the way we live and redirect our futures, if we as a society deem it necessary. The future is not inevitable, and history shows us that.”

The funding for this project was provided to the project leads by The Coalition for Archaeological Synthesis, the Amerind Foundation, and the Field Museum of Natural History provided the funds to hold two workshops at the Amerind Foundation in Dragoon, Arizona. Publication support was provided to co-author David Stasavage by Arts & Science at New York University.

91�Թ�� Researcher Co-Authors Studies Reshaping Understanding of Human Origins

Ana Hidalgo — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 19:24:38 +0000

For over a century, scientists have searched fossil records for clues to how early human ancestors evolved, migrated and separated across Africa and beyond. Today, researchers such as , an assistant professor in the 91�Թ�� Department of Anthropology, are revisiting those clues with new insights and advanced imaging techniques.

In two recent studies, Freidline and her collaborators analyzed evidence from fossil sites in eastern and northwestern Africa, revealing surprising findings of early human evolution dating back nearly 1.5 million years. While both studies focus on describing fossil remains and understanding their place in human evolutionary history, Freidline, a co-author of the studies, says each addresses different questions and regions.

Uncovering the Unexpected

The first study, published in the Nature Communications journal and led by Karen Baab of Midwestern University, revisits DAN5, a nearly 1.5-million-year-old Ethiopian fossil belonging to the extinct human species Homo erectus—Latin for “upright man.” This species is recognized as the first to have a more human-like body plan, walk fully upright, and migrate from Africa into Asia and Europe.

Originally described in 2020, the new study expands earlier work on the braincase by examining the fossil’sfacial bones and teeth, which had not previously been fully analyzed. Using advanced imaging techniques, the research team digitally reassembled fragments of the face and teeth to reconstruct the most complete Early Pleistocene human cranium from the Horn of Africa.

“The reconstructed fossil revealed a surprising mix of traits, including a face and teeth that appear more similar to earlier species like Home habilis,” Freidline says.

Map showing potential migration routes of the human ancestor, Homo erectus, in Africa, Europe and Asia during the early Pleistocene. DAN5 fossil located on the lower right. Photo by Dr. Karen Baab. Scans provided by National Museum of Ethiopia, National Museums of Kenya and Georgian National Museum.

As a biological anthropologist specializing in paleoanthropology, she says that these findings were unexpected because other African Homo erectus fossils from the same time period, particularly from Kenya, show more “classic” H. erectus morphology.

“DAN5 blurs the line between Homo habilis and Homo erectus,” Freidline says. “Our findings suggest that early Homo erectus populations were more anatomically varied than previously thought and may have retained features from earlier ancestors even after dispersing across Africa and Eurasia.”

The second study, published in the Nature journal and led by Jean-Jacques Hublin of the Collège de France, shifts the focus north to Morocco, examining fossils from Grotte à Hominidés — French for “Hominid Cave” — at Thomas Quarry I, a significant cave system and paleoanthropological site near Casablanca dated to approximately 773,000 years ago.

“The fossils include well-preserved mandibles, teeth and postcranial remains that, in some respects, are unexpectedly gracile and derived — in contrast to typical Homo erectus and the European species Homo antecessors dated to the same time period — likely representing an African population closely related to Homo sapiens,” Freidline says.

Lower mandibles from North Africa, illustrating variation among fossil hominins and modern humans. Fossils include Tighennif 3 from Algeria (upper left), ThI-GH-10717 from Thomas Quarry in Morocco (upper right), Jebel Irhoud 11 from Morocco (lower left), compared with a mandible from a recent human (lower left). (Photo by Philipp Gunz, MPI EVA Leipzig; CC BY-SA 2.0)

Until now, fossils from Spain’s Atapuerca region were considered the earliest evidence of traits linked to Homo sapiens. The Grotte à Hominidés fossils suggest a possible evolutionary connection to the earliest known Homo sapiens from Jebel Irhoud, dated to about 315,000 years ago.

According to Freidline, North Africa has been overlooked in the fossil record. The Sahara was not always a barrier. During repeated “Green Sahara” phases over the past several hundred thousand years — including periods relevant to Homo erectus and the emergence of Homo sapiens — the region became wetter and habitable, enabling movement and gene flow. The most recent phases occurred between approximately 15,000 and 5,000 years ago.

“These fossils are dated very precisely to a critical time near the split between Homo sapiens and the Neanderthal and Denisovan lineage,” she says. “They are an evolved form of Homo erectus, showing a mosaic of archaic and derived traits while lacking characteristics typical of Neanderthals.”

Together, the two studies challenge the idea of a simple, linear path in human evolution, instead pointing to a long history of various and overlapping populations across Africa.

“Even though both fossils are separated by hundreds of thousands of years, they reveal unexpected combinations of traits that suggest early human evolution was shaped by regional evolution, migrations and interactions,” Freidline says. “Africa wasn’t just the birthplace of early humans, but a place where multiple populations coexisted and evolved in different ways.”

Advanced Imaging Reveals Hidden Details

Unlocking the new findings required more than fossils alone. Both studies relied on advanced technologies such as micro-CT scanning, digital reconstruction and comparative anatomical analysis, including geometric morphometrics, to extract new information from fossil fragments.

“For the DAN5 fossil, the facial bones were fragmented, so we used CT data to virtually reconstruct the face, fitting the pieces together like a 3D puzzle,” Freidline says. “Once reconstructed, I applied geometric morphometrics to capture subtle shape differences to compare fossils across time and geography without size bias.”

In Morocco, magnetostratigraphic dating provided one of the most secure timelines for any African Pleistocene hominin assemblage, while virtual reconstruction techniques allowed scientists to visualize fossils that couldn’t be physically reassembled.

Freidline’s application of cutting-edge methods, including geometric morphometrics, has deepened our understanding of how the skull and face developed and changed over time in fossil human ancestors.

“Traditional methods to analyze fossils rely heavily on linear measurements, like length and width, which are useful but limited,” she says. “Geometric morphometrics allow us to isolate shape independently of size, which is crucial when comparing fossils of different sizes.”

Freidline says this method has become the standard in paleoanthropology over the years, but it remains a specialized skill set requiring advanced software and programming. She brings this expertise to both her research and teaching at 91�Թ��.

Where Discovery Leads Next

Looking ahead, researchers hope to compare the Ethiopian and Moroccan fossils with other early human remains from Africa and Europe to better understand how ancient populations were related and how traits were passed on over time.

“There’s still a lot we don’t know, and every new fossil has the potential to change the story,” Freidline says. “Additional fossil discoveries may further clarify how these populations interacted, adapted, interbred and evolved.”

For Freidline, this research has been professionally and personally meaningful.

“I’ve been interested in evolution, history and archaeology since I was a child, and my curiosity about paleoanthropology evolved when I was introduced to it in college,” she says. “That experience opened the door for me to study human evolution through fossil remains and to ask big questions about how, when and where humans evolved, helping us better understand our deep history.”

Digging Deeper: How a 91�Թ�� Anthropology Graduate Uncovered Her Purpose

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:42:26 +0000

Whether Melanie Langgle ’24 was sitting at her desk or sitting on the sidelines, she often felt like she was falling behind. From struggling to grasp lessons throughout grade school to training tirelessly for volleyball, every step of her journey was a fight to prove herself.

At just 5-feet 2-inches, she wasn’t the tallest on the volleyball court, but her fundamentals, determination and father’s support helped her secure a full-ride college scholarship. When her collegiate athletic career ended abruptly, Langgle was forced to confront a major insecurity: was she truly smart enough to find her place in the world? For this 91�Թ�� anthropology graduate, the answer came through perseverance, a community of like-minded peers and a rediscovered sense of purpose.

Breaking Ground

Langgle’s love for volleyball started at nine years old. Her father’s promise to help her achieve her dream of playing college volleyball became the reason she pursued higher education instead of joining the U.S. Marines like her father and uncles. However, losing her athletic scholarship derailed her plans and left her paying for college out of pocket.

“After losing my athletic scholarship, I started to think about what I really wanted to do with my life. [91�Թ��] gave me the room to figure out what I wanted and didn’t want,” she says. “I knew that [91�Թ��] has opportunities that I could take advantage of, which is really what drew me to [it].”

After transferring to 91�Թ�� in 2022, she found exactly what she needed: a community of mentors and peers who helped her rediscover her confidence.

Finding Anthropology — And Herself

Initially a history major, Langgle discovered her passion for anthropology while taking courses on the discipline, realizing its critical role in contributing knowledge for historians to write about. Joining 91�Թ��’s Hominids Anonymous club, the university’s official undergraduate anthropology club, introduced her to a network of like-minded students and internship opportunities.

“I found a community of peers and mentors who are supportive, uplifting and took me seriously right away — which hasn’t always been the case in my life,” she says. “I had a great foundation with the anthropology department, my advisors and just [91�Թ��] itself.”

Her most transformative experience came through the Cape Canaveral Archaeological Mitigation Project, a for-credit internship in collaboration with the U.S. Space Force, where she helped excavate artifacts on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s property.

Melanie Langgle ’24 uncovered artifacts at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as part of the Cape Canaveral Archaeological Mitigation Project. (Photo courtesy of Melanie Langgle ’24)

This experience unexpectedly allowed Langgle to find purpose in her past, deepening her connection to her family’s history as homesteaders from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

“I got to restore graves that were my direct descendants,” she says. “My grandma was born out there, and since people aren’t allowed there anymore, I was able to share [my experience] with her. Now I know what she’s talking about when she would tell me stories of her growing up.”

Her internship also inspired her honors undergraduate thesis, which tackled a 200-year-old mystery of Florida mortuary practices. At her first professional archaeological conference, experienced archaeologists offered her invaluable feedback that helped shape her research.

“I called [Sandra Wheeler, a senior anthropology lecturer at 91�Թ��,] when I finally figured out my thesis,” Langgle says. “She was so excited, and we talked about [my discovery] for a long time. [That moment] inspired me to become a professor. I want to create those same moments [for students], helping them feel that pride and realize they can [accomplish] anything.”

This shared excitement and inspiration is clearly mutual, as Wheeler reflects on Langgle’s growth throughout her academic journey.

“Melanie is an incredibly passionate, bright and driven student; it was such a pleasure watching her develop as a scholar through her anthropology coursework and honors undergraduate thesis research,” Wheeler says. “I am certain her future success in the field of archaeology will have great impacts on how we interpret and understand the past.”

Building a Foundation for the Future

Langgle takes pride in going above and beyond for her education. As a first-generation college student from a low-income family, she balanced multiple jobs to cover her college tuition, but she never let that stand in her way. She leveraged the resources at her disposal.

Melanie Langgle ’24 works alongside a fellow student at an excavation site during the 2024 Summer Research Opportunities Program. (Photo courtesy of Melanie Langgle ’24)

As a Burnett Honors Scholar, Langgle took advantage of her access to scholarships to fund conferences and research opportunities, including the University of Notre Dame’s Summer Research Opportunities Program. This past summer, Langgle broadened her skills by working in Midwestern fields digging up stone arrowheads to understand how the environment impacts prehistoric societies. She was introduced to new archaeological methods and grant writing, plus made connections within various departments at the university.

As Langgle prepares to graduate at 25, she looks back on her journey with gratitude.

“The most rewarding part of my 91�Թ�� journey has been finding my sense of purpose,” she says. “My peers and mentors have instilled more confidence in me than I’ve ever had. Through their encouragement, I’m applying to doctoral [programs].”

While awaiting her admittance, Langgle is staying busy. She’s working on publications — one of which focuses on zooarchaeology — and has been accepted into the Irish Heritage School’s osteology program, where she’ll spend a week in Ireland in March 2025.

“My time at 91�Թ�� reflects what can happen when I roll up my sleeves and take myself seriously,” she says. “I spent so much of my life doubting my capabilities, but being [at 91�Թ��] has taught me that that [mindset] was holding me back from reaching my full potential, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”

91�Թ�� Graduate Uses Stories of the Past to Educate Current, Future Generations

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 17:03:54 +0000

For anthropology graduate Griffon Binkowski, the studies of humans and culture allows him to showcase the lives of those before us, providing information for future generations to learn from. Through his studies at 91�Թ�� and as an educator at the Orange County Regional History Center (OCRHC), Binkowski has conducted research and educated the public to provide insight into the lives of ancient peoples.

His studies focued on biological archaeology, which takes an anthropological approach to the study of the human body from modern and/or archaeological contexts.

The inspiration to get involved in the field came from a fascination with archaeology and ancient Greek and Egyptian societies in grade school, and an interest in storytelling and human connection that was nurtured through his work in theater and costuming.

“I kind of realized that my passion was telling human stories and letting people know that people of the past were just like us,” he says. “They loved. They laughed. They had hardships, they had inside jokes, and the best way you can get to know people of the past is through the bodies of the people themselves. Their bones can tell you what people ate, what illnesses they had and where they moved to. If you see that they moved later in their life, it’s like, ‘Why did they move?’ ”

Through his studies at 91�Թ��, he’s been able to investigate those stories. As a DirectConnect student, Binkowski loved the accessibility of being able to easily transfer from Valencia College to 91�Թ��. As a Florida native, remaining close to family (including his sister, who is a fellow Knight) was another reason he chose Knight Nation.

At 91�Թ��, one of the major projects he’s worked on was through the Cape Canaveral Archaeological Mitigation Project, a collaboration between the 91�Թ�� Department of Anthropology and the 45th Space Wing of the U.S. Space Force. 91�Թ�� and the Space Force examine one to two archaeological sites on the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) per field season. The goal of these explorations is to further understand the cultural significance of various sites located within CCSFS. The project allows students to get hands on archaeology experience by participating in cultural resource management.

“It is a really big deal in archaeology because most of the time you have to pay a lot of money to go to a field school, but with this, it is the cost of a three-credit hour class and your professors come with you,” Binkowski says. “You get real cultural resources management experience. You learn real archaeological techniques and you just get to be part of a really cool program that I haven’t seen anywhere else.”

Binkowski’s honors undergraduate thesis involved research into ancient Maya citizens from Belize. With the help of his advisor, Lana Williams, 91�Թ�� bioarcheologist senior lecturer, the study examined dietary trends in the area through X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, a non-destructive analytical technique that measures the elemental composition of materials by analyzing the X-rays they emit when excited by a primary X-ray source. Using HHXRF to examine the teeth of the ancient Maya people, Binkowski discerned trends that indicated high marine resource consumption in a coastal region. There were also changes in the data to suggest migration of some Maya people to different areas.

“Through all the hard data there’s a story there. That graph is different because of the very human reason, and not because numbers are complicated sometimes,” he says. “It’s the humanity, the human story that’s buried within all of this numerical data that I really want people to focus on and see that archaeology and bioarcheology really connects us to our collective human past.”

Through Binkowski’s work with Orange County Regional History Center, he serves as the resident archaeology specialist, using what he’s learned at 91�Թ�� on ancient Florida subjects. He also educates a range of ages and develops public history curriculum. During the pandemic, Binkowski took a break from his classes due to medical reasons and served as a substitute teacher for Osceola County, which has helped him in his current role at OCRHC.

An example of this is a lecture he did on the history of Celebration, Florida, as part of a series at the center.

“One of my classes at 91�Թ�� was on the archaeology of Disney,” Binkowski says, “so I used that research, in combination with what I learned at the center, to develop my lecture, ‘Celebrating Celebration: History and Perspectives.’ ”

After graduation, Binkowski will return to 91�Թ�� for the graduate anthropology program, where he will be expanding upon his undergraduate research with Williams. Beyond that, Binkowski would like to get involved in what he calls, “edutainment,” where his passion for archaeology and anthropology melds with entertainment to bring the past to the people in a consumable, relatable way.

“I want people to identify with people of the past, so I would love to develop some sort of program or experience that allows people to interact with archaeology in an ethical but also entertaining way,” he says.

Stories of Innovation, Discovery Highlight 91�Թ�� Research Top 10 News List of 2023

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 21:44:15 +0000

With researchers continuing to understand space and the planetary bodies around it, 91�Թ��’s Top 10 Research News list included the completion of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission.

In a first-of-its-kind mission for the United States that spanned over seven years, the unmanned spacecraft mapped and studied the surface of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, then retrieved a sample for researchers to study the asteroid’s composition.

Topping the list was a story on the world’s first energy-saving paint inspired by butterflies. The plasmonic paint utilizes a nanoscale structural arrangement of colorless materials — aluminum and aluminum oxide — instead of pigments to create colors. The paint can contribute to energy-saving efforts and help reduce environmental impacts.

Other stories included a $12.6 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency grant looking to create self-repairing, biological and human-engineered reef-mimicking structures. 91�Թ�� is helping design reef structures that will be used to mitigate coastal flooding, erosion and storm damage that threaten civilian and Department of Defense infrastructure and personnel. Another story featured new research on the earliest presence of Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia, pushing back the presence of humans in that part of the world by at least 20,000 years and a human presence in the region for at least 56,000 years.

Here are the Top 10 91�Թ�� Research News Stories of 2023:

1. 91�Թ�� Researcher Creates World’s First Energy-saving Paint – Inspired by Butterflies

2. The Long Journey of NASA’S OSIRIS-REx

3. Human Migration Timeline Redrawn by Fresh Fossil Analysis

4. New 91�Թ��-developed Battery Could Prevent Post-hurricane Electric Vehicle Fires

5. 91�Թ�� Researchers Are Advancing AI-assisted Drug Discovery

6. 91�Թ�� is Designing Self-repairing Oyster Reefs to Protect Florida’s Coastlines

7. New DOD-funded Project Will Develop Morphing Hypersonic Engine

8. 91�Թ�� Researchers Create Bioabsorbable Implants for Better Bone Healing

9. 91�Թ�� Team Awarded $2.3M Grant for Innovative Intervention to Prevent Falls

10. Deadly Frog Disease More Prevalent in Central Florida Than Expected, 91�Թ�� Study Finds

The annual top 10 list is based on 91�Թ�� Today page views and coverage 91�Թ�� research received by global, national, state, and local media. The stories were generated by news releases and pitches from 91�Թ�� Communications and Marketing, 91�Թ��’s Office of Research and 91�Թ��’s colleges.

Human Migration Timeline Redrawn by Fresh Fossil Analysis

Stephanie Ochoa — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 16:42:13 +0000

New research recasts the narrative on the earliest presence of Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia, pushing back the presence of humans in that part of the world by at least 20,000 years and a human presence in the region for at least 56,000 years.

The findings are based on analysis of bones excavated from deep inside the Tam Pà Ling Cave in northern Laos and the subject of a new publication published this week in .

Not only do the results reshape theories on human migration out of Africa, but it opens new insights into how humans settled in the lush, warm climate of Asia, says the study’s lead author, Sarah Freidline, an assistant professor in 91�Թ��’s .

Human fossils are rare in Southeast Asia. According to DNA analysis, migration out of Africa into Southeast Asia had previously been thought to have occurred sometime between 50 to 60,000 years ago. However, with the fossils studied by Freidline being aged at around 80,000 years old, this migration seems to have occurred much earlier. The cave’s location 186 miles inland is also significant, suggesting migratory ancestors explored well beyond coastlines and islands.

Freidline specializes in paleoanthropology, with an emphasis on the evolution of the human face. She already had a paper in the works on the excavated tibia and frontal skull bone when the test results brought some surprises.

Images of the frontal bone of a skull uncovered from Tam Pà Ling Cave in northern Laos. Credit: Nature Communications, Early presence of Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia by 86–68 kyr at Tam Pà Ling, Northern Laos

“We were expecting the dating to be more around 60,000 years ago, not 80,000,” she says. “Then when we got these results back, we had to re-evaluate the implications.”

The study included researchers from around the world. Freidline was brought onto the project by her supervisor while in a post-doctorate program at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany.

Freidline’s role included taking CT scans of the fossils and performing statistical shape analyses to confirm the fossils belonged to Homo sapiens.

A noticeable difference between this skull and typical skulls from Africa was how slender and modern the brow appeared, she says. This suggests the skull fragment belonged to an immigrant population instead of older hominins like Denisovans who were also in the region.

Despite doing it for a living, Freidline says studying such unprecedented material doesn’t lose its luster.

“It is always exciting to be able to handle and see these fossils,” she says. “Especially since they came from some of the earliest founders of Southeast Asia.”

Freidline received her doctorate in anthropology from The City University of New York Graduate Center in 2012. She joined 91�Թ�� in 2020 as an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology, part of 91�Թ��’s .

91�Թ�� Research in 60 Seconds: Studying Culture Through Food

Nicole Dudenhoefer ’17 | Video by 91�Թ�� Social — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 14:42:58 +0000

Whether it’s solving the world’s biggest problems or investigating the potential of novel discoveries, researchers at 91�Թ�� are on the edge of scientific breakthroughs that aim to make an impact. Through the Research in 60 Seconds series, student and faculty researchers condense their complex studies into bite-sized summaries so you can know how and why Knights plan to improve our world.

Name: Ty Matejowsky

Position: Professor of Anthropology

Why are you interested in this research?

As an anthropologist, I find that food is one of the most evocative and relatable ways of expressing a culture. I currently conduct research in Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, but generally my research interests include fast food, economic anthropology, globalization, urbanization, culture change and development, and disaster studies. Most recently I’ve published a book, , which traces discusses the chain restaurant’s roots in established southern foodways and considers its place in American and southern popular culture.

Who inspires you to conduct your research?

My family, friends, and colleagues. I cannot express how many times informal conversations with these folks have led to new insights and research directions, ultimately, enhancing my work.

How does 91�Թ�� empower you to do your research?

91�Թ�� cultivates an atmosphere of collaboration and interdisciplinarity that invigorates my research imagination and agenda.

What major grants and honors have you earned to support your research?

The 91�Թ�� In-House Research Award in 2006. Over the years I’ve also received travel funds from the College of Sciences.

Why is this research important?

In a world where intentional and unintentional misunderstandings abound, my work offers on perspectives on common issues we all as humans confront, highlighting commonalities and differences related to matters of food production and consumption.

91�Թ��’s First Anthropology Ph.D. Graduate Looks Forward to Career

Kyle Martin — Thu, 05 May 2022 20:51:51 +0000

Jane Holmstrom is looking forward to a career that looks back in time when she graduates this weekend with 91�Թ��’s first degree.

Her journey to Saturday’s hooding ceremony began twelve years ago when she took her first anthropology classes as an undergrad at Minnesota’s St. Cloud State University. That ignited a passion for studying skeletal remains that took her to the south of France to study the bones of an order of Benedictine monks called Cluniacs.

Four years of research and doctoral work produced her dissertation, “Examining Diet, Mobility and Social Dynamics in Southern Medieval France Using a Multi-Isotopic and GIS Approach.”

The dissertation details what she learned about the diet and migration patterns of the ninth-13^th century individuals who lived and worked at the site in Laudun, about 90 minutes northwest of the Mediterranean city of Marseilles. The history of Laudun includes a Roman settlement.

The “integrative” aspect of her terminal degree comes from the different disciplines applied to unlock the secrets held by the bones. Stable isotope analysis of bone fragments reveals what people ate during that time and what percentage of the population were locals versus migrants. She also incorporated GIS mapping to provide a more complete picture of site location.

Funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant, Lambda Alpha Research Grant and Rust Family Foundation kept the work buoyant, along with 91�Թ��’s Doctoral Research Support Award and the Trevor Colburn Anthropological Endowment Fund.

“Being able to secure a project that I was genuinely interested in and getting the grants are definitely highlights from the past four years,” she says.

Holmstrom’s advisor Senior Associate Dean Tosha Dupras praised her ability to navigate an international research project during a pandemic. Dupras also commends Holmstrom’s commitment to the Department of Anthropology beyond research, including co-founding an Anthropology Mentorship Program.

“It has been a fantastic experience serving as Jane’s advisor, and I am proud to now have her as a colleague,” Dupras says.

This weekend will bring celebrations with her family, including parents, a husband and twin daughters. Then six months of publications and pursuing funding before starting her next project, a similar study of medieval Cistercian nuns in Hyères, France. A pilot study on the remains has already provided promising results, and Holmstrom is excited to begin radiocarbon dating the bones.

“I can’t wait to get there,” she says.

Collaboration Attracts Funding for Advanced Imaging Device

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 15:53:51 +0000

Because of the collaborative nature of 91�Թ��’s faculty, the National Science Foundation has awarded the university a grant that will help fund the purchase of a $900,000 imaging device that will do everything from design nanoparticles of the future to delve into our civilization’s past.

The NSF approved the funding request because in addition to advancing scientific research, it’s meant to foster interdisciplinary collaboration at the 91�Թ�� and beyond. Rather than siloed in one department’s lab, the state-of-the-art X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS) with ultrafine imaging capability will be used by researchers from physicists to anthropologists.

“We went across the campus, from engineering to archaeology,” said Professor Sudipta Seal, who led the effort to acquire the technology. “A really interesting facet of this collaboration is how this instrument – beyond medicine and manufacturing and nanotechnology – will help us understand the origin of civilization. That’s the impact of getting this instrument on campus.”

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyzes the surface chemistry of a material by irradiating a solid surface with a beam of X-rays while measuring the kinetic energy and electrons emitted from the surface. It can be used to examine corrosion on medical implants, help develop high-end microchips, characterize nanomaterials, study the behavior of biological cells over time, and detect trace elements in forensic cases, among other things.

“The breadth and the width of what the instrument can do is phenomenal, from electronics to medical to archaeological to manufacturing to entertainment to forensics – it goes on and on,” said Seal, chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and past director of both 91�Թ��’s NanoScience Technology Center and its Advanced Materials Processing Analysis Center.

Those in 91�Թ��’s Department of Anthropology in the College of Sciences hope the instrument will help answer questions about the materials and technologies of ancient cultures. Knowing how a material is composed can answer questions about ancient trade, innovation or even human diet.

“The receipt of this grant highlights the already interdisciplinary nature of anthropological research, particularly archaeology,” said Professor Tosha Dupras, chair of the Department of Anthropology. “Technologies and methodologies such as the XPS that are used more widely in other scientific disciplines can often be utilized by anthropologists to inform on questions of the past. This grant also illustrates a successful inter-college collaboration, and the true nature of interdisciplinary research.”

91�Թ�� has an obsolete X-ray spectrometer – 1980s technology that was donated to the university in the late 1990s – but its capabilities are limited.

The $629,650 NSF grant will fund most of the purchase of the new instrument, with mandatory matching funds from the university paying the rest. It will be housed in the new Research I building, formerly called Interdisciplinary Research and Incubator, which is nearing completion.

It will be the most powerful instrument of its type in a 100-mile radius, Seal said, so it’s expected to draw researchers from area hospitals, corporations and others outside academia who will be able to use it.

Collaborators on the grant application included Assistant Professor Scott Branting from the Department of Anthropology, Assistant Professor Tania Roy from the NanoScience Technology Center, Professor Yongho Sohn from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Assistant Professor Xiaofeng Feng from the Department of Physics, Assistant Professor Yang Yang from the NanoScience Technology Center, and Amit Kumar, associate director of research programs at BRIDG.

Department of Anthropology Archives | 91�Թ��� News

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