Maya-Toolkit

This toolkit compiles very useful information about the health status of several Maya groups. Everybody interested in this topic should be aware of this great tool.
http://www.brycs.org/maya-toolkit/upload/Maya-Toolkit.pdf

What we did in 2011

The year of 2011 was very productive for all of us involved in the BEMICELU project.

Publications
Hannah was the first author of two papers published on the American Journal of Human Biology. Inês has one paper in press on Collegium Antropologicum. See details of our publications here bemicelu.blogspot.com/p/publications-on-maya-issues.html

Presentation in conferences
We presented our work at the Human Biology Association Annual Meeting, in Minneapolis; at a conference on 'Anthropolohy and Health' in Dubrovnik; and at the SSHB Symposium 'The Human Biology of Jim Tanner', in Cambridge.

PhDs updates
Hannah has submitted her PhD dissertation and will have her viva in February or March 2012. Well done, Hannah. Hugo has been conducting fieldwork in Merida since October and is planning to keep going for 6 months more. Before Christmas he had been able to collect data from 30 family clusters (i.e. child, mother and grandmother). This is a great achievement.

Funding
Just before Christmas Hugo got extra funding from CONACYT. This will speed up some aspects of the fieldwork because it will be able to pay for another fieldworker.

Visits to Mexico
Ines and Barry visited Merida in July. We met with Fede, Hugo and the rest of the team at CINVESTAV. Ines went back in November to give a talk, to participate a bit on the fieldwork and to meet with the rest of the team.

Sabbaticals and visitorships
Fede and his wife Tere are coming to Loughborough to do a 1-year of sabbatical with Ines and Barry. Also, Adriana will start a 4-month visit to work with Ines and finish her Masters dissertation. Mexico is coming to Loughborough!!

Next year
We need to keep publishing steadily and, above all, write a couple of solid grant proposals focusing on the energy expenditure issues. Hopefully we will have a go on some epigenetics.



Three generations of Maya 

 Happy New Year to all. Thanks for reading our blog.

inesvsilva1@gmail.com has sent you a New Scientist story.

Your friend thought you should see this article on newscientist.com today.

World's first fat tax: what will it achieve?
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21228356.600

Some articles may require a login, available free to all subscribers to New Scientist magazine.

You can subscribe at http://www.newscientist.com/subscribe.

Their message:
Not the solution to the obesity problem in Mexico...or...would this work?

NewScientist.com is the world's leading online science and technology news service, with a global network of award-winning journalists. Visit www.newscientist.com now for constantly updated and authoritative reporting that's both fast and fascinating.

Our research is on the news

I was interviewed for a Yucatecan newspaper after my lecture in Merida on the 30^th November. See the report here  http://a7.com.mx/reportajes/9582-baja-estatura-no-es-por-herencia.html

 

 

Conference presentation tomorrow

Hannah  is doing an oral presentation at the Society for the Study of Human Biology Symposium "The Human Biology of Jim Tanner". From 13-15th December at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

Title of the presentation: Resting metabolic rate explains the relationship between stunting and overweight/obesity in a sample of urban Maya children (Wilson H, Dickinson F, Griffiths P, Bogin B, Varela-Silva MI).



 All data presented at the Symposium was collected gathered during our fieldwork in 2010



Mother and grandmother

Project: Nutritional dual burden and health outcomes among three generations of Maya in the Yucatan

One of our families

Three generations participating in the project "Nutritional dual burden and health outcomes among three generations of Maya in the Yucatan"

Recruitment

------------------------------
Sent from my iPhone

Our research team posts these adverts in the schools so that mums can be present when their kids are measured.

When things don't go the way we plan...we adapt and make the most out of it

Today we had planned to go to Tecoh and work with a Maya grandmother. Hugo picked me up at 6.30am so we would have time to get the car, the equipment and the two other fieldworkers, Graciela and Frida (who is also an aeroplane pilot. How cool is this?)

By 8.30am we were waiting to meet our contact in the southern part of Merida. Our contact was the grandmother's daughter (i.e. the mother of the child whose nutritional status we have already assessed! Remember this is an intergenerational study and we are only interested in the matrilineal side of the question). Easy!

So we waited and waited and went to check at the lady's house and then went back to the school but she was nowhere to be seen.

This is one of the classrooms of the school

The school is in front of a deactivated medical centre...
however, today we saw about 20 nurses running a
vaccination programme in the area

Eventually we found the mother but, by then, she was unable to go with us and the assessment was reschedule for next week.

Hugo and Graciela talking to the mother and rescheduling the appointment to assess the grandmother

The following photos show a little bit of the area

Outside the school

Selling t-shirts

Wind mill

What's next

Tomorrow (Tuesday, 29th) we are going outside Merida to interview and measure an "abuelita"...a grandmother. We are leaving Merida at 6.30am.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl

Fieldwork summary

The data collection is going very well. Hugo, Graciela and the rest of the team are doing an amazing job recruiting children, mothers and grandmothers to participate in the study about "Intergenerational effects of the nutritional dual-burden upon the health and growth status of Maya children".

"Let's unload, people". All the fieldwork equipment is in the boot. Graciela commands the operations

Hugo interviewing the mother

Graciela talking to the children. The girl wants to be a teacher and the boy likes to cook and wants to be a chef.

Inês and the children

Measuring the height of the mother. We are so grateful to all these families who receive us in their houses and are so generous with their time. Thanks for your cooperation!

Well done. Now let's pack again.

Another yucatecan meal

This is nachos with beans and melted cheese. They came with a side of fried plantains that amazingly came with a side of mayonnaise. It has been difficult to find low caloric food!! But there's only so much one can blame on jet lag so tomorrow I better start eating sensibly.

My workstation at the Hotel

Interior patio...very pleasant.

Xmas decorations for sale!

Just got some of these Xmas decorations - made out of helote's leaves

Huipils

Beautiful huipils

In Merida

I am in Merida now. Horribly long journey. Went for a walk this morning just to see if everything is still here ( aha!). I am glad to report that all is well. I have today (Sunday) only to recover from jet lag. Tomorrow we will start fieldwork and I am presenting my research on Wednesday. Need a rest now, but will upload some photos before. More soon. Gracias!

New paper accepted

We have a new paper accepted for publication at Collegium Antropologicum

Varela-Silva MI, Dickinson F, Wilson H, Azcorra H, Griffiths P, Bogin B (2012).

The Nutritional Dual-Burden in Developing Countries. How is it Assessed and what Are the Health Implications? Collegium Antropologicum (accepted)

Invited speaker at the CINVESTAV 50th Anniversary conference in Merida

Inês is leaving to Mexico on Saturday very early in the morning to attend the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of CINVESTAV. She will be a guest speaker there. The summary of her talk is here:

Title: The health status of the Maya: Summary of our research with CINVESTAV

Author: Dr Maria Ines Varela Silva, Lecturer in Human Biology at the Centre for Global Health and Human Development, Loughborough University, UK

Dr Varela-Silva's group has been conducting research with the Maya since 1992. The aims of this research are:
1. to understand the factors that shape health outcomes among Maya children and their families
2. to compare the health status of the Maya in Mexico and Guatemala with Maya migrants in the USA
3. to train new generations of researchers in their own countries so that this type of research can continuously be improved
4. to plan and implement meaningful interventions that will help improve the life and health status of the Maya families

During her talk Dr Varela-Silva will present data regarding health, nutritional status and growth outcomes of Maya groups. Overall, the Maya are very short and present a very high prevalence of chronic undernutrition (stunting). In the last 20 years the Maya are also showing a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. The coexistence of chronic undernutrition with overnutrition is a recent phenomenon designated as "dual burden of malnutrition". The causes of this phenomenon are complex and cover a range of behavioural, environmental, metabolic and intergenerational factors that act synergistically and produce a wide range of negative health outcomes. When the Maya migrate to the Unites States they show a very rapid increase in height, which is a positive indicator, but these migrants also show disproportionate increases in the rates of overweight and obesity that rank above the national references. Changes in nutrition and patterns of regular daily of physical activity explain, in part, this trend towards overweight/obesity but complex metabolic and epigenetic factors also seem to be part of the problem.

Dr Varela-Silva has also been delivering training sessions to researchers at CINVESTAV and other research units around the world. One of the missions of her research group is to further help the development of anthropology and allow researchers in their countries to continue meaningful research projects that have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the populations.

Implementing intervention programmes among the Maya families is also a goal that Dr Varela-Silva's team is pursuing. In this talk she will present some ideas on how to increase awareness among the Maya families regarding health-related issues.

Finally, Dr Varela-Silva will highlight the contribution of researchers at CINVESTAV - especially the collaboration with Dr Federico Dickinson.

Link to the abstract

And the link is here
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajhb.21215/abstract

A new paper published

And Hannah is the first author of another paper.

"How useful is BMI in predicting adiposity indicators in a sample of Maya children and women with high levels of stunting?" American Journal of Human Biology (early view)

New paper accepted - American Journal of Human Biology

Hannah is shining again...a new paper has been accepted to the American Journal of Human Bology.

Wilson H, Dickinson F, Griffiths P, Azcorra H, Bogin B, Varela-Silva MI (2011) How useful is BMI in predicting adiposity indicators in a sample of Maya children and women with high levels of stunting and short stature?, American Journal of Human Biology, In Press

Next stage

We are making progress planning our next stage of research...We will be using a great Bioelectric Impedance analyser - starting in January :-).

In 10 days Inês and Barry will be joining Hugo, Fede and all the Mexican crew in Mérida, so there will be more fine-tuning.

Hannah is doing great and is at full speed. Go girl...

Now, wouldn't that be great if the Gates Foundation grant would come through? Fingers crossed!

The Amilcar Cabral Institute for Economic and Political Research

Dear Members
A good resource if you are conducting research in Guinea-Bissau - see below
Best wishes
Inês
----------------------------------------------------
Dr. Maria Inês Varela-Silva, BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA
Lecturer in Human Biology and Chair of The Biosocial Society
Loughborough University (SSEHS)
Centre for Global Health and Human Development
Brockington Extension, 2nd floor, Loughborough, LE11 3TU - UK
email: M.I.O.Varela-Silva@lboro.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)1509 228164
http://myprofile.cos.com/inesvs
http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Maria_Ines_Varela-Silva/
http://bemicelu.blogspot.com/
-----------------------------
The Biosocial Society - http://www.biosocsoc.org/
The Biosocial Society on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/biosocsoc
________________________________________

Date: 27 June 2011


THE AMILCAR CABRAL INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL RESEARCH
Readers of this list may be interested to hear of a new think-tank, the Amilcar Cabral Institute for Economic and Political Research, which is an independent think tank that aims to promote academic research and influence public policy on Guinea-Bissau, for the equitable development of Guinea-Bissau's economy and society.

The Institute was established a year ago and it is affiliated to the Centre of West African Studies at Birmingham University. It has recently entered into partnership with the Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisa (INEP), the major research body in Guinea-Bissau. Both bodies hope to work together to promote greater international research and engagement with the country. The Institute also runs the Secretariat for the newly established All-Party Parliamentary Group of the United Kingdom on Guinea-Bissau, which will see an exchange of parliamentarians between the two countries this coming autumn.


The Institute's Board of Advisors, derived primarily from an academic background, is a distinguished group of people with a shared commitment to the future prosperity of Guinea-Bissau and the research capacity of the Institute.

The Institute's Board of Advisors comprises:



José Lingna Nafafe - University of Birmingham (Chair)

Patrick Chabal - King's College, London

Reginald Cline-Cole - University of Birmingham

Toby Green - King's College, London

Walter Hawthorne - Michigan State University

José da Silva Horta - University of Lisbon

Mamadú Jao - Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisa (INEP), Bissau

Peter Mendy - Rhode Island College
Carmen Neto - Guinea-Bissau British Trust, former Guinea-Bissau Ambassador to China

David Stephen - Former UN Representative to Guinea-Bissau, former Head of United Nations Peace-Building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS)



The Amilcar Cabral Institute is interested to hear from all researchers with an interest in pursuing research related to any aspect of Bissau-Guinean society, and is keen to help develop meaningful research projects in partnership with them. Some funding may be available. For more information, please see the Institute's website, www.cabralinstitute.org<http://www.cabralinstitute.org/>.



Toby Green
Leverhulme Early Career Fellow
Departments of History and Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
S3.08
King's College London
Strand
London WC2R 2LS

Two position openings in international nutrition

Dear Biosocial Society members

 

Please find attached information about positions in international nutrition.

Best regards

 

Inês

 

 

--------------------------------------------------

Dr. Maria Inês Varela-Silva

Chair of The Biosocial Society

Loughborough University (SSEHS)

Centre for Global Health and Human Development

Brockington Extension, 2nd floor, Loughborough, LE11 3TU - UK

email: M.I.O.Varela-Silva@lboro.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1509 228164

The Biosocial Society - http://www.biosocsoc.org/

The Biosocial Society on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/biosocsoc

 

 

From: John Himes [mailto:himes001@umn.edu]
Sent: 22 June 2011 19:36
Subject: Two position openings in international nutrition

 

Colleagues:

Attached are descriptions for two positions we are seeking to fill as soon as possible. I am sending this as a member of the Board of Directors of the SPOON Foundation (Support and Provide Overseas Orphans Nutrition). In collaboration with the Joint Council on International Children Services, we are developing nutrition assessment methodologies and training for orphanages and other similar institutions where these children reside. This program is funded and will start in China and in three other countries, and will expand to ten countries. The initial focus is on children birth to 2 years.

Please pass along these notices to others and especially to anyone you believe might be interested in doing the work. Individuals can reside in any country although there will be some travel required. Interested individuals should contact Michele Rudzinski directly (mishelle@spoonfoundation.org), as indicated on the announcements.

Thanks for you help on this.

JHH

-- 

John H. Himes, PhD, MPH

Professor

Division of Epidemiology and Community Health

University of Minnesota School of Public Health

1300 South 2nd Street, Suite 300

Minneapolis, MN 55454 USA

t: 612-624-8210

f: 612-624-9328

e: himes001@umn.edu

url: http://umn.edu/~himes001

International Conference on Nutrition and growth

Dear all

 

See here  

 

http://www2.kenes.com/nutrition-growth/Pages/Home.aspx

 

the announcement for a conference that may interest you

 

Best regards

 

Inês

 

--------------------------------------------------

Dr. Maria Inês Varela-Silva

Chair of The Biosocial Society

Loughborough University (SSEHS)

Centre for Global Health and Human Development

Brockington Extension, 2nd floor, Loughborough, LE11 3TU - UK

email: M.I.O.Varela-Silva@lboro.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1509 228164

The Biosocial Society - http://www.biosocsoc.org/

The Biosocial Society on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/biosocsoc

 

 

Going back to Mérida in July

I am back in Mérida in July. Good timing to meet with the team and prepare the next stage of the fieldwork which will be lead by Hugo!

And some photos of the town and people, just to remind us all how nice it is and how great it is do conduct research there...

Conference in September

This is a good conference to attend. The Biosocial Society is co-organizing.

Conference on Anthropology and Health - Dubrovnik

I am presenting a paper on "Nutritional dual burden in developing countries: health implications", at a conference about "Anthropology and Health" in the beautiful town of Dubrovnik.
Will be presenting new data on the Maya families and hopefully there will be a nice paper submitted by the end of July before I travel to Mexico again:-)
Keeping you posted.

MSC advert Leicester - Gunn and Carter MSc advert

Dear Biosocial Society members

See attached information about a MSc that may interest you or your students

Best regards

Inês

 

From: Khunti, Kamlesh (Prof.) [mailto:kk22@leicester.ac.uk]
Sent: 02 June 2011 19:13
To: Ines Varela-Silva
Cc: Kamlesh Khunti
Subject: Fwd: Gunn and Carter MSc advert

 

Dear Ines

 

This is a MSC project that we are also involved with. Can you please distribute this to your students. 

Best wishes

 

Kamlesh 

 

Field assistant oppourtunity

Dear Biosocial Society members…Job advert for a field assistant - Argentina

 

From: Claudia Valeggia [mailto:valeggia@sas.upenn.edu]
Sent: 24 May 2011 19:48
To: Ines Varela-Silva
Cc: Alexandra Nunez; Beki Langford; Catherine Panter-Brick (Catherine.panter-brick@yale.edu); Clare Chandler; Cristina Padez; Daniel Sellen; David Lawson; Erika McClure; Kate Hill (cmhill@brookes.ac.uk); Mhairi Gibson; Nick Mascie-Taylor; Rachel Colls; Ria Reis; Rie Goto; Sarah Johns
Subject: Field assistant oppourtunity

 

Dear Colleagues,
I would greatly appreciate it if you could disseminate this announcement for a field assistantship position in my project.  This position would be particularly attractive for a recently graduated college student looking for an excellent field experience.

Thank you,

Claudia

HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE ECOLOGY PROJECT IN ARGENTINA

 FIELD ASSISTANT OPPORTUNITIES

Field assistant needed starting August 2011 to join the Chaco Area Reproductive Ecology Program in northern Argentina. We are currently conducting a five-year NSF-sponsored project on life history transitions among the Toba of the province of Formosa (www.sas.upenn.edu/~valeggia/CARE program.html).  The assistant will join the field team (one field coordinator and 4 local field assistants) in data collection, including anthropometrics, urine sample collection, and health/development interviews. This position offers excellent opportunities for training in biological and cultural anthropology. Applicants should have some field experience, enthusiasm, a high degree of cultural sensitivity, and a conversational level of Spanish. Familiarity with Microsoft Access and ability to drive a stick truck, a plus. Minimum commitment: 6 months. We will cover lodging at the field station, local transportation, research fees, internet access and required equipment. A small stipend to cover food can also be arranged. Please send a cover letter and resume (including the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of 3 references) to Dr. Claudia Valeggia (valeggia@sas.upenn.edu) and to Cara McGuinness (mcguinne@gmail.com).

 

New issue of Journal of Biosocial Science is available on Cambridge Journals Online

Dear Biosocial Society Members

For your information – new issue of the Journal of Biosocial Science

Best regards

Inês

 

--------------------------------------------------

Dr. Maria Inês Varela-Silva

Chair of The Biosocial Society

Loughborough University (SSEHS)

Centre for Global Health and Human Development

Brockington Extension, 2nd floor, Loughborough, LE11 3TU - UK

email: M.I.O.Varela-Silva@lboro.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1509 228164

The Biosocial Society - http://www.biosocsoc.org/

The Biosocial Society on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/biosocsoc

 

 

 

From: journalalerts@cambridge.org [mailto:journalalerts@cambridge.org]
Sent: 01 June 2011 02:12
To: Ines Varela-Silva
Subject: New issue of Journal of Biosocial Science is available on Cambridge Journals Online

 

 

This email is sent from Cambridge Journals Online per your request. The following issue is now available online:

ISSN: 0021-9320, EISSN: 1469-7599 Journal of Biosocial Science http://journals.cambridge.org/JBS Volume 43 / Issue 04 , July 2011 Also see FirstView articles - articles available online ahead of being assigned to an issue. PDF version of this Table of Contents Research Articles SPOUSAL AGREEMENT ON PREFERRED WAITING TIME TO NEXT BIRTH IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA TESFAYI GEBRESELASSIE, VINOD MISHRA Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume 43, Issue 04 , July 2011 , pp 385 - 400 doi: 10.1017/S0021932011000083 ( About doi ) Published Online on 30th March 2011 [ abstract ] A STUDY USING DEMOGRAPHIC DATA OF GENETIC DRIFT AND NATURAL SELECTION IN AN ISOLATED MEDITERRANEAN COMMUNITY: BAYÁRCAL (LA ALPUJARRA, SOUTH-EAST SPAIN) F. LUNA, A. R. TARELHO, A. M. CAMARGO, V. ALONSO Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume 43, Issue 04 , July 2011 , pp 401 - 411 doi: 10.1017/S0021932011000046 ( About doi ) Published Online on 10th February 2011 [ abstract ] SOCIOECONOMIC, DEMOGRAPHIC AND LEGAL INFLUENCES ON CONSANGUINITY AND KINSHIP IN NORTHERN COASTAL SWEDEN 1780–1899 I. EGERBLADH, A. H. BITTLES Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume 43, Issue 04 , July 2011 , pp 413 - 435 doi: 10.1017/S0021932011000125 ( About doi ) Published Online on 22nd March 2011 [ abstract ] THE IMPACT OF CHILDHOOD MALNUTRITION ON SCHOOLING: EVIDENCE FROM BANGLADESH RASHEDA KHANAM, HONG SON NGHIEM, MOHAMMAD MAFIZUR RAHMAN Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume 43, Issue 04 , July 2011 , pp 437 - 451 doi: 10.1017/S0021932011000149 ( About doi ) Published Online on 30th March 2011 [ abstract ] DETERMINANTS OF TERRITORIAL EXOGAMY IN FRIULI (NORTH-EAST ITALY) IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY ALESSIO FORNASIN Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume 43, Issue 04 , July 2011 , pp 453 - 467 doi: 10.1017/S0021932011000186 ( About doi ) Published Online on 19th April 2011 [ abstract ] INTELLIGENCE IN TAIWAN: PROGRESSIVE MATRICES MEANS AND SEX DIFFERENCES IN MEANS AND VARIANCES FOR 6- TO 17-YEAR-OLDS RICHARD LYNN, HSIN-YI CHEN, YUNG-HUA CHEN Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume 43, Issue 04 , July 2011 , pp 469 - 474 doi: 10.1017/S0021932010000611 ( About doi ) Published Online on 22nd November 2010 [ abstract ] ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HEALTHY LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH AND CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGES IN 63 COUNTRIES MOSTAFA SAADAT Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume 43, Issue 04 , July 2011 , pp 475 - 480 doi: 10.1017/S0021932011000034 ( About doi ) Published Online on 10th February 2011 [ abstract ] THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WEIGHT LOSS AND TIME AND RISK PREFERENCE PARAMETERS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL AKEMI TAKADA, RYOTA NAKAMURA, MASAKAZU FURUKAWA, YOSHIMITSU TAKAHASHI, SHUZO NISHIMURA, SHINJI KOSUGI Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume 43, Issue 04 , July 2011 , pp 481 - 503 doi: 10.1017/S0021932010000696 ( About doi ) Published Online on 12nd January 2011 [ abstract ] Erratum The relationship between weight loss and time and risk preference parameters: a randomized controlled trial – Erratum Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume 43, Issue 04 , July 2011 , pp 505 - 507 doi: 10.1017/S0021932011000071 ( About doi ) Published Online on 31st May 2011 [ abstract ] Book Reviews Mothers and Others: The Evolutionary Origins of Mutual Understanding. By Sarah Blaffer Hrdy. Pp. 422. (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, USA, 2009.) £19.95, ISBN 978-0-674-03299-6, hardback. Alex Alvergne Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume 43, Issue 04 , July 2011 , pp 509 - 511 doi: 10.1017/S0021932011000113 ( About doi ) Published Online on 31st May 2011 [ abstract ] Cholera: The Biography. By Christopher Hamlin. Pp. 344. (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2007.) £12.99, ISBN 978-0-19-954624-4, hardback. Emma Coleman-Jones Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume 43, Issue 04 , July 2011 , pp 511 - 512 doi: 10.1017/S0021932011000095 ( About doi ) Published Online on 31st May 2011 [ abstract ] Front Cover (Ofc, Ifc) And Matter JBS volume 43 issue 4 Cover and Front matter Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume 43, Issue 04 , July 2011 , pp f1 - f2 doi: 10.1017/S0021932011000289 ( About doi ) Published Online on 31st May 2011 [ abstract ] Back Cover (Ibc, Obc) And Matter JBS volume 43 issue 4 Cover and Back matter Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume 43, Issue 04 , July 2011 , pp b1 - b2 doi: 10.1017/S0021932011000290 ( About doi ) Published Online on 31st May 2011 [ abstract ]

To access this issue visit: http://journals.cambridge.org/jid_JBS Tables of contents and article abstracts are free to all on Cambridge Journals Online. Access to the full text is available to users whose institutions subscribe. If your institution does not subscribe why not recommend Journal of Biosocial Science to your librarian today and gain access 24-hours a day. Visit: http://journals.cambridge.org/recommend_JBS

If you have any queries regarding this email or Cambridge Journals Online, please email subscriptions_newyork@cambridge.org if you are located in the USA, Canada, or Mexico and subscriptions_cambridge@cambridge.org if you are located elsewhere.

With best wishes

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BioSocial Society AGM & sponsored workshop

Dear BioSocial Society Members,

RE: BioSocial Society AGM, Sept 16th 1.30pm

Please find details below of the BioSocial Society sponsored workshop on
"Applied Evolutionary Anthropology", held in Bristol University 14th-16th
September.

The Society's Annual General Meeting will also be held on the last day of
the workshop, Friday Sept 16th at 1.30pm. Members of the Biosocial Society
are warmly invited to attend.

Applied Evolutionary Anthropology: Darwinian Approaches to Contemporary
World Issues

14-16th Sept 2011
Dept of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Bristol, UK.

Organisers: Mhairi A. Gibson (University of Bristol) & David W. Lawson
(University College London).
Sponsors: The Biosocial Society, the Galton Institute & the European Human
Behavioural and Evolution Association.

Invited speakers include:
Val Curtis (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine).
Kate Hampshire (Department of Anthropology, University of Durham).
Ruth Mace (Department of Anthropology, University College London).

Workshop description:
Evolutionary anthropology over the last fifty years has improved our
understanding of how current environments (both physical and social) and
legacies of past selection explain human behavioural diversity. Combining
ethnographic, economic and demographic methods, these approaches have
provided new insights into the behaviours of contemporary peoples around
the globe. A growing number of evolutionary anthropologists are now using
Darwinian theory as a predictive tool to help the people with whom they
work, particularly through the design and critique of public policy and
international development programmes which seek to implement changes to
environments and/or behaviour. The aim of this workshop is to bring
together anthropologists and interdisciplinary scientists who are currently
applying evolutionary approaches to contemporary world issues. Proposed
themes include: 1) Changing reproductive and livelihood strategies, 2) Food
insecurity and intrahousehold resource allocation, 3) Co-operative norms
and habitat conservation, 4) The impact of development intervention and
social policies 5) Implications of emerging environmental pressures (e.g.
disease, population growth and climate change).

The meeting will bring together social science researchers working on these
issues across a variety of disciplines and aims to form an integrative
approach to the question of applied evolutionary anthropology. The workshop
will be composed of paper presentations and discussion sessions aimed
specifically at drawing out the applications and policy relevance of
current research in the UK and beyond. We hope to attract around 30
participants working in diverse relevant disciplines, including
anthropology, demography, economics and psychology.

Abstract submission & workshop participation:
If you are interested in presenting a paper at this workshop please email
an abstract (250 words max) by 5pm on July 22, 2011 to David Lawson at
d.lawson@ucl.ac.uk. If you are interested in attending the workshop as a
delegate, but would not like to present, please email a short statement of
your research interests. Accommodation will be provided for all speakers
and lunch provided for all attending the meeting.

Please get in contact if you have any questions about the workshop and feel
free to circulate this advert.
We look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Mhairi and David.

Mhairi A. Gibson
Dept. of Archaeology and Anthropology
University of Bristol
43 Woodland Road
Bristol BS8 1UU
Tel: +44 (0)117 954 6087
mhairi.gibson@bristol.ac.uk
http://www.bris.ac.uk/archanth/staff/gibson/

David W. Lawson
Department of Anthropology
University College London
14 Taviton Street
London
WC1H 0BW
Tel: +44 (0)20 7679 8781
d.lawson@ucl.ac.uk
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology/staff/d_lawson/index

Meet Inês - The new phlebotomist

Inês has just completed her basic phlebotomy training. It all went very well. Hopefully she will be able to use the new acquired skills on the BEMICELU project very soon - if the Gates Foundation proposal goes through...and other sources of financing are in place. Fingers crossed. More exciting updates very soon...

Registration and Call for Abstracts SSHB Symposium 'The Human Biology of Jim Tanner' 13th-15th December 2011

Dear Biosocial Society Members

See below and attached the announcement for a symposium that may interest you

Best regards

Inês

 

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Dr. Maria Inês Varela-Silva

Chair of The Biosocial Society

Loughborough University (SSEHS)

Centre for Global Health and Human Development

Brockington Extension, 2nd floor, Loughborough, LE11 3TU - UK

email: M.I.O.Varela-Silva@lboro.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1509 228164

The Biosocial Society - http://www.biosocsoc.org/

The Biosocial Society on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/biosocsoc

 

 

Registration for the 2011 symposium of the SSHB is now open,  further details and registration forms are available at:

http://www.sshb.org/SSHB/Future_Meetings.html

 

 

The Society for the Study of Human Biology is pleased to announce the themes and call for abstracts for our

2011 symposium which is to honour the life and work of JM Tanner.

 

'The Human Biology of Jim Tanner'

13th-15th December 2011

Corpus Christi College, Cambridge

 

Keynote Speakers:

David Barker, University of Southampton

Noël Cameron, Loughborough University

Tim Cole, Institute of Child Health

Peter Ellison, Harvard University

Daniel Hoffman, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey

John Komlos, University of Munich

Michelle Lampl, Emory University

Helen Liversidge, Queen Mary, University of London

Robert Malina, Tarlton State University

Lawrence Schell, University at Albany, SUNY

Babette Zemel, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

 

The four themes of the programme are:

The Biology of Growth; Assessing Growth; Worldwide Variation in Growth; and Growth and Health.

 

Proffered papers for oral or poster presentations relating to the symposium themes are welcome

 

Abstract guidelines are on the attached proforma, and can be submitted to Dr Laura Jones (laura.jones@nottingham.ac.uk).

Deadline for submission of abstracts is 30^th June 2011

 

 

Symposium organising committee:

Emily Rousham, Noël Cameron, Laura Jones and Rie Goto

 

Biosocial Society update

Dear Biosocial Society members,

 

I am sending this email to update you on the Biosocial Society news. As many of you know, a new Committee started functions in January. These changes always slow things down a little and it has taken us some time to settle in the new jobs. It seems that we are now settled so please expect more regular news from the Society.

 

The points I would like to emphasise today are:

 

1.    The Society has a newly designed website with useful information about membership benefits, workshops and publications. Check it out: http://www.biosocsoc.org/index

 

2.    To know more about the Committee members click here: http://www.biosocsoc.org/committee.html

 

3.    The Society has a long tradition in organizing conferences and workshops (see more here http://www.biosocsoc.org/workshops). The next workshop will be on 14-16^th September14-16th, Dept of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Bristol, UK. "Applied Evolutionary Anthropology'. Further details will be uploaded on the website soon.

 

4.    The Biosocial Society awards small grants to postgraduate student members of the society. The next deadline is Thursday 15th September (see more here: http://www.biosocsoc.org/bursaries).

 

5.    The Society is actively involved in publishing and disseminating high quality research. See the collection of  books (http://www.biosocsoc.org/books), Journal of Biosocial Science (http://www.biosocsoc.org/jbs) and "Society Biology and Human Affairs (online journal http://www.biosocsoc.org/sbha/).

 

6.    The Society regularly posts job adverts to all members.

 

7.    The Society has a Facebook page.  "Like" us here http://www.facebook.com/biosocsoc

 

8.    If you wish to advertise your research, research Centre, or a specific project please let me know and I will post it on Facebook. This is a very easy and effective way of disseminating research and I would like to see it used more frequently.

 

9.    Please let the Committee know if you have suggestions to help us improve. We are very happy to hear from you

 

With my best regards

 

Inês Varela-Silva

--------------------------------------------------

Dr. Maria Inês Varela-Silva

Chair of The Biosocial Society

Loughborough University (SSEHS)

Centre for Global Health and Human Development

Brockington Extension, 2nd floor, Loughborough, LE11 3TU - UK

email: M.I.O.Varela-Silva@lboro.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1509 228164

The Biosocial Society - http://www.biosocsoc.org/

The Biosocial Society on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/biosocsoc