Zeresenay “Zeray” Alemseged, Evolutionary Biology and Integrative Biology, has been elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Alemseged is a paleoanthropologist studying human evolution. His research methods span extensive fieldwork and cutting-edge imaging techniques to discover and analyze the processes and mechanisms that led to the emergence of Homo sapiens. While leading the Dikika Research Project in Ethiopia, Alemseged discovered and analyzed the fossilized remains of a 3.3-million-year-old child of the species Australopithecus afarensis—the most complete skeleton of a human ancestor discovered to date. This and other findings by Alemseged represent major advancements in our understanding and have changed the textbooks on human evolution.
Dr. Alemseged will join other American Academy members from around the world in arts and sciences, business, philanthropy and public affairs, to collaborate on advancing the public good. Please join us in congratulating him on this important honor.