Evolutionary anthropology is concerned with understanding human biology, behaviour and culture through the lens of evolutionary biology. It is both a comparative and a historical science, employing conceptual and analytical tools provided by both the natural sciences and humanities. Fundamentally, evolutionary anthropologists seek to understand the place of humans in nature, what makes us unique, and to understand how evolution has shaped our bodies and behaviour over the millions of years since we shared a common ancestor with chimpanzees.
Research at UNSW is strongly field-based and largely involves obtaining information in the form of fossils and material culture, as well as about the ecological and environmental changes forming the backdrop to our evolution. We also undertake some research into the evolution and ecology of non-human primates.