SE Valley Times

The Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University has dedicated 2024 to highlighting the significance of the fossil skeleton "Lucy," discovered 50 years ago. This initiative aims to connect our past with humanity's future.

Throughout the year, the institute organized several events. These included a trip to Lucy's discovery site in Ethiopia with Founding Director Donald Johanson, an international symposium attended by over 1,500 people both in person and online, and a gala dinner at the Phoenix Zoo with 280 guests. Additionally, a lecture by Johanson took place at the Mesa Arts Center, and a conference was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for Lucy's "Golden Anniversary." Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also participated in this event.

Institute Director Yohannes Haile-Selassie and Johanson co-authored "Learning from Lucy," featured on Scientific American's November 2024 cover. Science Magazine highlighted Lucy on its April cover as well.

To conclude this year's outreach efforts, several events are planned:

- On November 1st, geneticist and Nobel Laureate Svante Pääbo will speak about "archaic genetics" at the Walton Center for Planetary Health.

- On November 6th, an exhibition titled “Finding Lucy” will open at the Museum of the Human Story within ASU’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change. It will feature reconstructions of Lucy alongside talks by Haile-Selassie and Chris Campisano.

- The same day marks the premiere of “Lucy’s Lasting Legacy,” a half-hour program produced by ASU Media Relations in collaboration with the institute. It will air again on Arizona PBS on November 24th.

- On November 7th, Curtis Marean will deliver a lecture on “The Great Human Diaspora.”

- On November 14th, Johanson will be “In Conversation” with Carl Zimmer at New York’s 92nd Street Y.

- The final presentation is scheduled for December 5th when Haile-Selassie discusses “The Institute of Human Origins: Setting the stage for the next 50 years.”

The institute remains committed to its mission of research and public outreach beyond this anniversary year.