Dr. Amanda Veile, biological anthropologist from Purdue University, discusses how babies helped shape the evolution of human life!
Human babies possess characteristics that are unique among mammals and even among other apes. Dr. Veile reviews the evolution of the human birthing mechanism, human-specific infant feeding behaviors, and how babies helped shape early human social organization.
This informative presentation is a way to really connect with the very root of what we do and why we do it.

Dr. Veile is a biological anthropologist and studies behavior and health patterns in Latin American indigenous populations. Her research examines birthing practices, breastfeeding ecology, and the epidemiologic factors that shape cross-cultural variation in child development. She maintains active field research projects in Mexico (Yucatec Maya subsistence farmers) and Peru (peri-urban migrants and Andean farmers).
Dr. Veile is an Assistant Professor of Biological Anthropology, a Center on Aging and the Life Course (CALC) faculty associate, an Ingestive Behavior Research Center (IBRC) executive board member and Director of LABOR (Laboratory for Behavior, Ontogeny and Reproduction) at Purdue University. She also holds a courtesy appointment in the newly launched Department of Public Health.
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