Tina Lasisi is a biological anthropologist and Ph.D. Candidate at Penn State University. Her research helps us better understand human diversity and answer the question, "Why did modern variation in human scalp hair evolve?"

How does a closer look at variation in scalp hair texture uncover the complexity of human diversity? Using computational image analysis, we can look at hair variation without invoking racial terminology (e.g. Caucasian or "Afro" hair) or relying on subjective descriptions of hair. In this video, Lasisi explores the fascinating biology of human scalp hair variation. This webinar was moderated by Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

This Zoom webinar aired October 21, 2020, as part of the HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic online program series. Watch a recording here.