Third Annual Bill Kimbel Impact Lecture

Lecture title: The life and times of our early ancestor: Reflections on the ecology and behavior of Australopithecus afarensis

Lecture overview: Much of the discussion concerning Australopithecus afarensis relates to its anatomy, functional morphology, and evolutionary relationships. But what do we know, or don’t know, about its ecology and behavior? This presentation explores what’s possible to deduce about the paleobiology of Australopithecus afarensis, including its locomotion and ranging behavior, ecology and dietary behavior, tool use and cognition, and anti-predator strategies. The aim is to conjure up what life was like for early hominins in the grassy woodlands of eastern Africa during the Pliocene.

When: Friday, April 4, 2025

Time: Lecture, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
VIP reception, 5:30 p.m.

Where: Walton Center for Planetary Health Auditorium #107 
777 East University Drive, Tempe AZ 85287- 8404

Cost: Free lecture
* VIP tickets $100.00: Join us for a special meet and greet with Harrison while enjoying cocktails and Hors d'oeuvres. Funds raised will be directed towards the Bill Kimbel Impact Fund Endowment. Additional event details and parking information can be found here. 

*All funds will be deposited with the ASU Foundation for A New American University, a nonprofit organization that exists to support ASU. Gifts in support of ASU are subject to the ASU Foundation policies and fees. Due to the fair market value of benefits provided, only payments in excess of fair market value (FMV) of $50 may be considered a charitable contribution. Please consult your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of charitable contributions. 

#G10307 FD320                                               CM96966             

About the Bill Kimbel Lecture series and Endowment
William H. Kimbel, PhD, was the ASU Virginia M. Ullman Professor of Natural History and the Environment with the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, former Director of the Institute of Human Origins (IHO), and an eminent scholar and teacher in the field of human origins. An endowment was established by his generous friends and colleagues to honor his memory and is used to fund this annual lecture series in his name and, in the future as the endowment grows, to fund student scholarships and research.

Professor Kimbel had an international and noted career as a scientist, researcher, professor, and mentor. During more than 40 years as a paleoanthropologist, his research on the origin, evolution, and anatomy of Australopithecus afarensis, early Homo, and other early hominins has profoundly influenced how we view the evolution of our ancestors. Through his research, public outreach and student training, Kimbel’s scientific rigor has been a benchmark against which all paleoanthropological work is measured.