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What is the CECD? 
The CECD is an AHRC funded research group dedicated to examining the evolutionary underpinnings of human cultural behaviour, past and present. more>

   
Page Title - events
   
  Overview and programme description
 
The programme provides an in depth overview of modern methods used in the
phylogenetic analysis of culture. Topics include:
  • phylogenetic tree- and network-building methods and the principles behind them
  • comparative methods used to infer ancestral states and coevolution
  • parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian approaches to phylogenetics
These methods, developed in evolutionary biology, provide a systematic and quantitative framework for the rigorous study of cultural evolutionary processes, and are allowing anthropologists, archaeologists, linguists and other human scientists to test hypotheses about the diversity of cultural behavior. The topics will be introduced by active researchers during lecture and discussion sessions, and the practical classes will give participants hands-on experience with a variety of software packages [including MacClade, PAUP and Bayes Trait]  and methods.

The programme will end with a 'clinic', where the tutors will be on hand to offer advice on participants' own research projects. A few bursaries are available, please refer to the Fees and Bursaries page for full details.

Who is it for?

The programme is primarily aimed at Masters students and those already engaged in doctoral research. All participants will be expected to have background knowledge of evolutionary theory. If space permits, it may be possible to accommodate some undergraduate students who are committed to pursuing a relevant dissertation topic in their final year.

Tutors

The following will take classes and/or participate in other academic and social activities:

Dr Fiona Jordan (http://www.cecd.ucl.ac.uk/people/?go1=64) is a CECD postdoctoral research fellow based in the Department of Anthropology, UCL. She recently defended her doctoral thesis, "A Comparative Phylogenetic Approach to Austronesian Cultural Evolution", and has given a number of talks about her work across the UK and in New Zealand.

Dr Mark Lake (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/profiles/lake.htm) is a member of AHRC CECD and lecturer in the Institute of Archaeology, UCL. He is an expert on the archaeological application of agent-based computer simulation and geographical information system and has recently also written about the evolutionary history of the bicycle.

Professor Ruth Mace (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology/staff/r_mace) is Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology in the Department of Anthropology, UCL. She researches the evolutionary ecology of human demography and life history and is a leading proponent of the use of comparative methods for testing cross-cultural hypotheses about culture and language evolution.

Professor Stephen Shennan (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/profiles/shennan.htm) is Professor of Theoretical Archaeology and Director of the Institute of Archaeology. He is internationally renowned for his work pioneering the application of evolutionary models to the archaeological study of human culture.

Dr James Steele (http://www.cecd.ucl.ac.uk/people/?go1=24) is Director of AHRC CECD and Research Reader in he Institute of Archaeology, UCL. He is well known for his research on the evolution of speech and tool use, and the modeling of diffusion processes as diverse as the peopling of the Americas and the introduction of new agricultural machinery.

Dr Jamie Tehrani (http://www.dur.ac.uk/anthropology/staff/profiles/?id=5388) holds a prestigious Research Councils UK fellowship in the Department of Anthropology at Durham University. He has published widely on the use of phylogenetic methods to study the evolution and transmission of tradition and is an authority on the spread of rug-weaving in Western and Central Asia.

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