Dr. Agustín Fuentes is a distinguished scholar transforming our understanding of human evolution and biological anthropology through integrative approaches. He currently serves as Professor of Anthropology at Princeton University, holding the prestigious position after his tenure as Edmund P. Joyce C.S.C. Professor of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame. Trained in Zoology and Anthropology at UC Berkeley, he earned his Bachelor's degrees in 1989 before completing his MA and PhD in Anthropology in 1991 and 1994 respectively. His academic journey spans four continents with extensive fieldwork examining primate behavior, evolutionary anthropology, and human diversity across two million years of history.
Fuentes' groundbreaking research explores the entanglement of biological systems with social and cultural dimensions of human life, resulting in over 150 peer-reviewed articles and chapters that have reshaped anthropological discourse. His influential book "The Creative Spark: How Imagination Made Humans Exceptional" presents a compelling framework for understanding creativity as central to human evolution, challenging traditional narratives about what makes us uniquely human. His work investigating the structures of race and racism has been particularly impactful in contemporary discussions about human diversity and social justice, as evidenced by his widely cited "Race, Monogamy, and other lies they told you" (2022). Fuentes has pioneered multispecies anthropology approaches that examine human relationships with other animals, contributing significantly to evolutionary theory through his research on cooperation, creativity, and belief systems.
Beyond his scholarly contributions, Fuentes has emerged as a prominent public intellectual through his National Geographic explorations and accessible science communication that bridges academic research and public understanding. He has received numerous accolades including the Inaugural Communication & Outreach Award from the American Association of Physical Anthropologists and the President's Award from the American Anthropological Association. His commitment to mentoring the next generation of anthropologists extends through extensive public speaking and his widely followed blog and social media presence. Currently, Fuentes continues to advance innovative research exploring the biological and cultural dimensions of belief systems, with his work poised to further illuminate the complex interplay between human cognition and social organization.
