A. Roberto Frisancho
Encyclopedia
A. Roberto Frisancho is a biological anthropologist
and the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor
of Anthropology
at the University of Michigan
. He is the 2008 recipient of the Franz Boas
Distinguished Achievement Award in Anthropology bestowed by the American Human Biology Association. He is best known for his work on developmental human adaptation
to extreme environments such as high altitudes, growth, anthropometry
and evaluation of nutritional status. Specifically, he advanced the hypothesis and demonstrated that the origin of adult variability of biological phenotypic traits are function of the effects and adaptations to environmental conditions that the organism makes during the developmental stage. Within this conceptual framework, he has contributed numerous papers on bioenergetics
, the nutrition
and developmental determinants of pre-natal and post-natal growth
including teenage pregnancy.
, speaking both Spanish and Quechua as a child. He attended the Tourist Guide School of Cusco, Perú and worked as a tour guide in Cusco and Machu Picchu
. That job allowed Frisancho to develop an interest in anthropology and expand his linguistic skills and become fluent in multiple languages (including Spanish, Quechua, English, French and Portuguese). Later in 1962 he graduated with a Bachelor in Humanities from the National University of San Antonio Abad of Cusco, Perú. Upon graduating he married to Hedy G. Moscoso and had two sons Roberto Javier and Juan Frisancho. In 1963 hed won a Fulbright fellowship and went to Pennsylvania State University to study Biological anthropology. During that time, he cultivated his interest in physiological, cultural, and developmental adaptations to extreme environments such as high altitude, cold, heath, under-nutrition and over-nutrition.
in Anthropology from Pennsylvania State University
and became Research Scientists at their Center for Human Growth and Development and Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the Department of Anthropology. In 1972 he was named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
He was the recipient of the LS&A Excellence in Education Award in 1996, 1997, and 1998 and the Amoco Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award in 1997. In 1999 he was named the Arthur A. Thurnau Professor of Anthropology . In June 2006 was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of Anthropology of the National University of San Antonio Abad of Cusco, Perú and in April 2008 received the Franz Boas Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Human Biology Association.
His research interest focus on the connection between biology, evolution and culture in determining the expression of biological traits. His approach seeks to evaluate contemporary biological traits as byproducts of past biological adaptations both in contemporary and evolutionary perspective. He is also interested in thropometric standards for the evaluation of child and adult growth and nutritional status.
Biological anthropology
Biological anthropology is that branch of anthropology that studies the physical development of the human species. It plays an important part in paleoanthropology and in forensic anthropology...
and the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He is the 2008 recipient of the Franz Boas
Franz Boas
Franz Boas was a German-American anthropologist and a pioneer of modern anthropology who has been called the "Father of American Anthropology" and "the Father of Modern Anthropology." Like many such pioneers, he trained in other disciplines; he received his doctorate in physics, and did...
Distinguished Achievement Award in Anthropology bestowed by the American Human Biology Association. He is best known for his work on developmental human adaptation
Adaptation
An adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism that is maintained and evolved by means of natural selection. An adaptation refers to both the current state of being adapted and to the dynamic evolutionary process that leads to the adaptation....
to extreme environments such as high altitudes, growth, anthropometry
Anthropometry
Anthropometry refers to the measurement of the human individual...
and evaluation of nutritional status. Specifically, he advanced the hypothesis and demonstrated that the origin of adult variability of biological phenotypic traits are function of the effects and adaptations to environmental conditions that the organism makes during the developmental stage. Within this conceptual framework, he has contributed numerous papers on bioenergetics
Bioenergetics
Bioenergetics is the subject of a field of biochemistry that concerns energy flow through living systems. This is an active area of biological research that includes the study of thousands of different cellular processes such as cellular respiration and the many other metabolic processes that can...
, the nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
and developmental determinants of pre-natal and post-natal growth
Human development (biology)
Human development is the process of growing to maturity. In biological terms, this entails growth from a one-celled zygote to an adult human being.- Biological development:...
including teenage pregnancy.
Early life
Frisancho was born on February 4, 1939 in Cusco PerúPeru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, speaking both Spanish and Quechua as a child. He attended the Tourist Guide School of Cusco, Perú and worked as a tour guide in Cusco and Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site located above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for...
. That job allowed Frisancho to develop an interest in anthropology and expand his linguistic skills and become fluent in multiple languages (including Spanish, Quechua, English, French and Portuguese). Later in 1962 he graduated with a Bachelor in Humanities from the National University of San Antonio Abad of Cusco, Perú. Upon graduating he married to Hedy G. Moscoso and had two sons Roberto Javier and Juan Frisancho. In 1963 hed won a Fulbright fellowship and went to Pennsylvania State University to study Biological anthropology. During that time, he cultivated his interest in physiological, cultural, and developmental adaptations to extreme environments such as high altitude, cold, heath, under-nutrition and over-nutrition.
Career
In 1969, he received his Ph.D.Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Anthropology from Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
and became Research Scientists at their Center for Human Growth and Development and Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the Department of Anthropology. In 1972 he was named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
He was the recipient of the LS&A Excellence in Education Award in 1996, 1997, and 1998 and the Amoco Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award in 1997. In 1999 he was named the Arthur A. Thurnau Professor of Anthropology . In June 2006 was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of Anthropology of the National University of San Antonio Abad of Cusco, Perú and in April 2008 received the Franz Boas Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Human Biology Association.
His research interest focus on the connection between biology, evolution and culture in determining the expression of biological traits. His approach seeks to evaluate contemporary biological traits as byproducts of past biological adaptations both in contemporary and evolutionary perspective. He is also interested in thropometric standards for the evaluation of child and adult growth and nutritional status.
External links
- publications
- Roberto Frisancho Biography at the University of Michigan