Owen Lovejoy (anthropologist)
Encyclopedia
Claude Owen Lovejoy is a functional anatomist at Kent State University
, Ohio and Director of the Matthew Ferrini Institute for Human Evolutionary Research. He is best known for his work on Australopithecine
locomotion and the origins of bipedalism. "The origin of man", which he published in Science
in January 1981, is cited as among his best-known articles.
in biological anthropology
.
Lovejoy is most well known for his work on reconstructing Lucy (Australopithecus)
--a near-complete fossil of a human ancestor that walked upright more than three million years ago. His research has covered a broad spectrum of human biological areas from eukaryotic mutations to ectocranial suture closures. Much of Lovejoy's research focuses on bipedal locomotion and its evolution. Many of his publications involve the thorough study of specific features of the hominid skeletal system or that of its ancestors. Perhaps best described as an anatomist, he is an adjunct professor of anatomy at NEOUCOM.
In 2007 he was appointed the director of Kent State's new anthropology institute, the "Matthew Ferrini Institute For Human Evolutionary Research".
In addition, he is part of a team that has conducted 17 years of biological analysis of Ardi
(Ardipithecus ramidus)--a near-complete 4.4-million-year-old hominid fossil found in present-day Ethiopia
. Publication of a special issue of Science
in October 2009 about this research demonstrated that hominid history was nearly one million years older than believed, and provided new information on the evolution of human limbs and locomotion, the habitats occupied by early hominids, and the nature of our last common ancestor with chimps.
Lovejoy has been active in paleodemography
and human origins modeling. He has theorized that upright walking was closely tied to monogamous mating in early hominids (Provisioning Model).
Interested in general education, Lovejoy has used a variety of venues to teach about science. Through consulting on television productions, he has reached large audiences. For instance, he worked with PBS on their 1997 NOVA special on human evolution. Based on the groundbreaking "Ardi" research, Lovejoy worked with the Discovery Channel
on two specials related to his team's nearly two decades of research: Discovering Ardi (2009), aired after the special issue of Science was published, and Understanding Ardi (2009).
In additional academic appointments, Lovejoy serves as clinical professor of anatomy at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, and a member of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Case Western Reserve University
. He is a research associate for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Acting as a technical adviser for the Cuyahoga County Coroner
's Office in Cleveland, Ohio, he has aided in crime scene analysis and testified as an expert witness in trials.
In off hours, Lovejoy plays in a bluegrass band named "The Purple Mountain Majesty Boys".
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
, Ohio and Director of the Matthew Ferrini Institute for Human Evolutionary Research. He is best known for his work on Australopithecine
Australopithecine
The term australopithecine refers generally to any species in the related genera Australopithecus or Paranthropus. These species occurred in the Plio-Pleistocene era, and were bipedal and dentally similar to humans, but with a brain size not much larger than modern apes, lacking the...
locomotion and the origins of bipedalism. "The origin of man", which he published in Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
in January 1981, is cited as among his best-known articles.
Early life and education
C. Owen Lovejoy was born in Kentucky, near Lexington. He earned his undergraduate degree and Ph.D. at the University of MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
in biological anthropology
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...
.
Career
Since 1968, Lovejoy has been teaching at Kent State University in Ohio. During this time Lovejoy has published more than 100 articles related to his research, including for general interest magazines as well as professional journals, such as Science, Nature, Bioessays and Scientific American.Lovejoy is most well known for his work on reconstructing Lucy (Australopithecus)
Lucy (Australopithecus)
Lucy is the common name of AL 288-1, several hundred pieces of bone representing about 40% of the skeleton of an individual Australopithecus afarensis. The specimen was discovered in 1974 at Hadar in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia's Afar Depression. Lucy is estimated to have lived 3.2 million years...
--a near-complete fossil of a human ancestor that walked upright more than three million years ago. His research has covered a broad spectrum of human biological areas from eukaryotic mutations to ectocranial suture closures. Much of Lovejoy's research focuses on bipedal locomotion and its evolution. Many of his publications involve the thorough study of specific features of the hominid skeletal system or that of its ancestors. Perhaps best described as an anatomist, he is an adjunct professor of anatomy at NEOUCOM.
In 2007 he was appointed the director of Kent State's new anthropology institute, the "Matthew Ferrini Institute For Human Evolutionary Research".
In addition, he is part of a team that has conducted 17 years of biological analysis of Ardi
Ardi
Ardi is the designation of the fossilized skeletal remains of a female Ardipithecus ramidus, an early human-like species 4.4 million years old...
(Ardipithecus ramidus)--a near-complete 4.4-million-year-old hominid fossil found in present-day Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Publication of a special issue of Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
in October 2009 about this research demonstrated that hominid history was nearly one million years older than believed, and provided new information on the evolution of human limbs and locomotion, the habitats occupied by early hominids, and the nature of our last common ancestor with chimps.
Lovejoy has been active in paleodemography
Paleodemography
Paleodemography is the study of ancient human mortality, fertility, and migration.More specifically, paleodemography looks at the changes in pre-modern populations in order to determine something about the influences on the lifespan and health of earlier peoples.Because case studies that are common...
and human origins modeling. He has theorized that upright walking was closely tied to monogamous mating in early hominids (Provisioning Model).
Interested in general education, Lovejoy has used a variety of venues to teach about science. Through consulting on television productions, he has reached large audiences. For instance, he worked with PBS on their 1997 NOVA special on human evolution. Based on the groundbreaking "Ardi" research, Lovejoy worked with the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
on two specials related to his team's nearly two decades of research: Discovering Ardi (2009), aired after the special issue of Science was published, and Understanding Ardi (2009).
In additional academic appointments, Lovejoy serves as clinical professor of anatomy at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, and a member of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
. He is a research associate for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Acting as a technical adviser for the Cuyahoga County Coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
's Office in Cleveland, Ohio, he has aided in crime scene analysis and testified as an expert witness in trials.
In off hours, Lovejoy plays in a bluegrass band named "The Purple Mountain Majesty Boys".
Legacy and honors
- Lovejoy serves on the editorial board for Anthropological Science.
- He has been ranked one of the Institute for Scientific Information’s “Most Highly Cited” authors in social sciences.
- In 2007, Lovejoy was elected to the United States National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.