Athena Aktipis

9Core positions

Arizona State University, Cooperative Future Institute Founding Director

2015–present

Arizona State University, Department of Psychology Full Professor from 2026 Associate Professor from 2020 Assistant Professor from 2015-2020

2024–26

President, International Society for Evolution, Ecology and Cancer (ISEEC)

2022–2025

Assistant Director of Research, Global Futures Laboratory (GDL)

2020–present

Founder, President, Producer, Zombified Media (https://www.zombifiedmedia.org)

2019–present

Lincoln Professor of Cooperation and Social Behavior, Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics

2019–present

Co-Director, Cooperation Science Network (CSN www.cooperationscience.org)

2018–present

Founder & Director, Interdisciplinary Cooperation Initiative (ICI), ASU President’s Office

2014–present

Co-Director, The Human Generosity Project (HGP www.humangenerosity.org)

2Member positions

2015–present

Member, Center for Evolution and Medicine

2015–present

Member, Center for Social Dynamics and Complexity

11Past positions

2016–2020

Member, ASU Biodesign Center for Fundamental & Applied Microbiomics

2017–2020

Member, ASU Biodesign Center for Biocomputation, Security & Society

2014–2020

External Faculty, Center for Evolution and Cancer, Institute for Cancer Research, London

2010–2014

University of California San Francisco, Center for Evolution and Cancer, Director of Human and Social Evolution & Research Scientist

2011–2014

Arizona State University, Department of Psychology, Assistant Research Professor

2012–2014

Johns Hopkins, Center for Advanced Modeling in the Social, Behavioral and Health Sciences, External Faculty

2009–2011

Arizona State University, Decision Center for a Desert City, Consultant

2010

(Spring) University of Pennsylvania, Department of Psychology, Adjunct Professor

2009

(Summer) Wistar Institute, Visiting Scientist

2002–2003

Portland State University, Course Developer/Instructor for Agent Based Simulation

1999

University of Arizona Economic Science Laboratory, Visiting Scholar

4Education and training

2008–2011

University of Arizona, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Post-doctoral Fellow

2003–2008

University of Pennsylvania, PhD in Psychology

2004

University of Pennsylvania, MS in Psychology

1998–2002

Reed College, BA in Psychology, Phi Beta Kappa

12Awards and honors

2025

Honorable Mention, for the Zombified Podcast; 2025 Public Humanities Network Leadership in Practice and Community Awards, CHCI Public Humanities Network

2020–23

Fellow at the Recovering Truth project, Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, ASU

2017

Lincoln Professor in ASU’s Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics

2013–14

Fellow & Elected Fellow’s Representative at the Institute for Advanced Study, Berlin, Wissenschaftskolleg

2012

National Academy of Science Kavli Fellow

2011

Distinguished Alumni Award, Willowbrook

2002

State Finalist, Rhodes Scholarship

2002

Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Reed College

2002

Commendation for Academic Excellence, Reed College

2001

Udall Scholarship (declined due to conflict with attendance at Max Plank Institute, Berlin)

2000

Honorable mention, Udall Foundation

1999

Commendation for Academic Excellence, Reed College

google scholar h-index: 45, with 10,176 citations, as of 6 Oct 2026. Excluding self-citations the h-index is 39, counted on the OpenAlex citation graph.

* indicates where I am first author; ** indicates where I am senior author; ✝ indicates graduate students/trainees mentored by me and ✤ indicates post-doc authors advised or mentored by me

My research is inherently interdisciplinary, as I study the general principles that underlie cooperation across systems, from human societies to cellular ones (including looking at cancer as a problem of cheating in multicellular bodies). This means that my publications are in a combination of psychology, biology and anthropology journals.

59Peer reviewed publications (post-tenure)

Of 59 peer reviewed papers I have published since tenure, 34 of them are papers with my students or post docs as first author, in 24 of those papers with students or post docs as first author, I am the senior author.

1. Fedurek, P., Aktipis, A., Cronk, L., Danel, D. P., Makambi, J. E., Mabulla, I. A., Berbesque, J. C., Lehmann, J. (2021). The relationship between perceived friendship and proximity networks among Tanzanian Hadza. Hunter Gatherer Research, 7(1-2), 107-142. https://doi.org/10.3828/hgr.2021.1

2. ✝Alcaraz, G. M., ✝Narayanan, S., Alcock, J., ✝Ayers, J. D., Baciu, C., Berman, H. L., Dunn, R. R., ✝Fortunato, A., ✝May, A., ✝Maley, C. C., Siegel, J., ✝Yavari, B., **Aktipis, A. (2025). Does Fermentation Enhance Beverage Safety? Kombucha’s Resistance to Microbial Invasion Suggests a Protective Role. bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory). https://doi.org/10.64898/2025.12.23.696228

3. ✝Beltrán, D. G., ✝Ayers, J. D., Kwon, J. Y., Todd, P. M., **Aktipis, A. (2026). Helping People in Times of Need Cultivates Empathy Over Time. Social Psychological and Personality Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/19485506261449280

4. Chua, K. J., Quilang, R. C., Sallinger, K., Aktipis, A., Arck, P., Bianchi, D. W., ✝Chang, H., Cleaves, H. J., Eikmans, M., Fjeldstad, H. E., Haig, D., Harrington, W. E., Horsnell, W. G. C., Jacobsen, D. P., Kamper‐Jørgensen, M., Kanaan, S. B., Khosrotehrani, K., Lambert, N. C., ✝Nelson, J. L., Olsen, M. B., Pan, T., Prins, J. R., Schildberg, F. A., Staff, A. C., Ståhlberg, A., Stelzer, I. A., Urbschat, C., Way, S. S., Wilson, M. A., Ye, Y., Kroneis, T., ✝Boddy, A. M. (2025). Identifying Key Questions and Challenges in Microchimerism Biology. Advanced Science, 12(48), e14969-e14969. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202514969

5. *Aktipis, A., Marambio, C., Lykke, N. (2026). Thinking about Cancer Cells, Their Evolution and Ecologies: An Interview Conversation., 221-234. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350504646.ch-007

6. ✝Ayers, J. D., ✝Beltrán, D. G., Mercado, D. L., **Aktipis, A. (2026). Friendship making orientation as indexed by preferences for wide networks and intimacy with many friends: structure and validity of a new construct. Evolution and Human Behavior, 47(4), 106878-106878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106878

7. ✝Beltran, D.G., ✝Ayers, J.D., Cronk, L., Balliet, D.P., Koster, J., ** Aktipis, A. (2026). Sources of fitness interdependence associated with shared fate and cooperation in a small-scale horticultural society. Evolution and Human Behavior 47 (1), 106802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2025.106802

8. Aktipis, A. (2026). Beyond inclusive fitness: Why dual inheritance still matters in the age of memes. Evolution and Human Behavior, 106756. Commentary on The Ecological Approach to Culture by Nicolas Baumard and Jean-Baptiste Andre. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2025.106756

9. Laplane, L., Lamoureux, A., Richker, H. I., ✝Marquez Alcaraz, G., ✝Fortunato, A., ✝Shaffer, Z., Aktipis, A., Mischel, P., Plutynski, A., , Townsend, J. & Maley, C. C. (2025). Applying multilevel selection to understand cancer evolution and progression. PLoS Biology, 23(7), e3003290. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003290

10. **Maley, C., Boddy, A., Nedelcu, A., & Aktipis, A. (2025). Multicellular Cooperation and the Hallmarks of Cancer: A New Foundation. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health. (IF = 3). https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoaf026

11. ✤ Van Horn, A., Mercado, D. L., ✝ Parmeggianni, C., Aktipis, A. & Cronk, L. (2025). Religion facilitates cooperation in healthcare sharing ministries. Religion, Brain and Behavior. 1–17. (IF = 3.8). https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2025.2489474

12. Lozo, K., Aktipis., A. & Alcock, J. (2025). Neuroimmune pain and its manipulation by pathogens. Evolutionary Applications. 18: e70098. (IF = 5.14) https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.70098

13. Søgaard Jørgensen, P., Nguyen Thanh, L., Pehlivanoglu, E., Klein, F., Wernli, D., Jasovsky, D., Aktipis, A., Dunn, R., Gröhn, Y., Lhermie, G., Scott, M., & Klein, E. (2025). Association between national action and trends in antibiotic resistance: an analysis of 73 countries from 2000 to 2023. PLOS Global Public Health. (IF = 2.4). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004127

14. Fortunato, A., Taylor, J., Scirone, J., Seyedi, S., Aktipis, A., & Maley, C. C. (2025). Tethya wilhelma (Porifera) Is Highly Resistant to Radiation Exposure and Possibly Cancer. Biology, 14(2), 171. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14020171

15. ✝Compton, Z. T., Harris, V., Mellon, W., Rupp, S., Mallo, D., ✤Kapsetaki, S. E., Wilmot, M., Kennington, R., Noble, K., Baciu, C., Ramirez, L., Peraza, A., Martins, B., Sudhakar, S., Aksoy, S., Furukawa, G., Vincze, O., Giraudeau, M., Duke, E. G., Spiro, S., .Flach, E., Davidson,H., Zehnder,A., Graham, T. A., Troan, B., Harrison, T. M., Tollis M., Schiffman, J. D., Aktipis, A., Abegglen, L. M., Maley, C. C., ✤Boddy,A. M., (2025). Cancer Prevalence Across Vertebrates. Cancer Discovery, 15(1), 227-244. (IF = 30.6). https://doi.org/10.1158/2159-8290.cd-24-0573

16. ✝Isch, C., Brown, R., Todd, P. M., Aktipis, A., & Pepper, G. (2025). Objective risk exposure, perceived uncontrollable mortality risk, and health behaviors. Journal of Public Health, 33(1), 11-21. (IF = 3.6). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-023-01994-2

17. ✝ Guevara Beltran, D., ✝ Ayers, J. D., ✝ Claessens, S., Alcock, J., Baciu, C., Cronk, L., Hudson, N. M., Hurmuz-Sklias, H., Miller, G., Tidball, K., ✤ Horn, A. V., Winfrey, P., Zarka, E., Todd, P. M. & **Aktipis, A. (2024). Shared fate was associated with sustained cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One, 19(9), e0307829. (IF = 2.9). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0307829

18. ✝ Ayers, J. D., Krems, J. A., & **Aktipis, A. (2024). How do you build the perfect friend? Evidence from two forced-choice decision-making experiments. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 02654075241243341. (IF = 3.2). https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075241243341

19. ✝ Guevara Beltran, D., Shiota, M. N., & **Aktipis, A. (2024). A socio-functional perspective on emotion and cooperation. In The Oxford Handbook of Evolution and the Emotions edited by Laith Al-Shawaf and Todd K. Shackelford https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197544754.013.34

20. Fedurek, P., Aktipis, A., Cronk, L., Danel, D., Lacroix, L., Lehmann, J., Mabulla, I., Makambi, J. E., & Berbesque, J. C. (2024). Prosocial reputation and stress among contemporary hunter-gatherers: The Hadza case. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1-11. (IF = 3.8). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-72238-w

21. Fedurek, P., Danel, D., Aktipis, A., Berbesque, J. C., Cronk, L., Makambi, E. J., ... & Koziel, S. (2024). Height and integration in proximity networks among Tanzanian Hadza men. American Journal of Human Biology, e24129. (IF = 2.1). https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.24129

22. Giraudeau, M., Vincze, O., Dupont, S. M., Sepp, T., Baines, C., Lemaitre, F., Lemberger, K., Gentès, S., Boddy, A., Dujon, A. M., Bramwell, G., Harris, V., Ujvari, B., Alix-Panabières, C., Lair, S., Sayag, D., Conde, D. A., Colchero, F., Harrison, T. M., Pavard, S., Padilla-Morales, B., Chevallier, D., Hamede, R., Roche, B., Malkocs, T., Aktipis, A., Maley, C., DeGregori, J., Le Loc’h, G. & Thomas, F. (2024). Approaches and methods to study wildlife cancer. Journal of Animal Ecology, 93(10), 1410-1428. (IF = 3.4). https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.14144

23. ✤ Kapsetaki, S. E., Compton, Z. T., Dolan, J., Harris, V. Κ., Mellon, W., Rupp, S. M., Duke, E. G., Harrison, T. M., Aksoy, S., Giraudeau, M., Vincze, O., McGraw, K. J., Aktipis, A., Tollis, M., Boddy, A. Μ., & Maley, C. C. (2024). Life history traits and cancer prevalence in birds. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 12(1), 105-116. (IF = 3.0). https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoae011

24. ✝Beltran G. D., ✝Ayers J. D., ✝Munoz A., Cronk L., & ** Aktipis A., (2023). What is reciprocity? A review and expert-based classification of cooperative transfers, Evolution and Human Behavior, Volume 44, Issue 4, 2023, Pages 384-393, ISSN 1090-5138. (IF = 3.0).

25. ✝ Ayers J. D., ✤Sznycer, D., Sullivan D., ✝Beltrán D. G., van den Akker O. R., ✝Muñoz A. E. Hruschka D. J., Cronk L., & ** Aktipis A., (2023). Fitness interdependence as indexed by shared fate: Factor structure and validity of a new measure. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences 17 (3), 259. (IF = 1.1). https://doi.org/10.1037/ebs0000300

26. ✝ Ayers J. D., ✝Beltrán D. G., ✤Van Horn A., Cronk L., Hurmuz-Sklias H., Todd P. M., & ** Aktipis A., (2023). COVID-19 and friendships: Agreeableness and neuroticism are associated with more concern about COVID-19 and friends' risky behaviors, Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 213, 2023, 112297, ISSN 0191-8869. (IF = 4.6).

27. ✝ Guevara Beltran, D. G.,, Shiota, M. N., & ** Aktipis, A. (2023). Empathic concern motivates willingness to help in the absence of interdependence. Emotion. 24(3), 628. (IF = 4.2). https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001288

28. ✝ Guevara Beltran, D., Whisner, C. M., Krems, J. A., Todd, P. M., & ** Aktipis, A. (2023). Food scarcity and disease concern reduce interdependence when people eat together. European Journal of Social Psychology, 53, 1245–1261. (IF = 2.8). https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2972

29. ✝ Heiman, S.L., Claessens, S., ✝Ayers, J.D., ✝Guevara Beltrán, D., ✤Van Horn, A., Hirt E.R., Aktipis, A., & Todd, P. M., Descriptive norms caused increases in mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientific Reports 13, 11856 (2023). (IF = 3.8).

30. Natterson-Horowitz B., Aktipis A., Fox M., Gluckman, P.D., Low, F. M., Mace, R., Read, A., Turner, P.E., & Blumstein, D.T., The future of evolutionary medicine: sparking innovation in biomedicine and public health. Frontiers in Science (2023) 1:997136. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsci.2023.997136

31. Fedurek P., Lacroix L., Aktipis A., Cronk L., Makambi J., Mabulla, I., Lehmann J., & Berbesque C., (2023). Relationship between proximity and physiological stress levels in hunter-gatherers: The Hadza, Hormones and Behavior, Volume 147,2023 (IF = 2.4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105294

32. ✤ Kapsetaki, S.E., Fortunato, A., Compton, Z., Rupp, S. M., Nour Z, Riggs-Davis, S., Stephenson, D., Duke, E. G., Boddy, A. M., Harrison, T.M., Maley, C. C., & **Aktipis, A., (2023). Is chimerism associated with cancer across the tree of life? PLoS One. 18(6):e0287901. PMID: 37384647; PMCID: PMC10309991. (IF = 2.9). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287901

33. Corbett, A. J., Wilson, K. E., ✤ Van Horn, A., ✝Ayers, J. D., Hurmuz, H., & **Aktipis, A. (2023). Changes in Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Assessment. International Journal of Exercise Science, 16(5), 327-341. (IF = 0.88).

34. ✝ Ayers, J. D., Krems, J. A., & **Aktipis, A. (2023). A factor analytic examination of women's and men's friendship preferences. Personality and Individual Differences, 206, 112120. (IF = 4.6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2023.112120

35. ✝ Beltran, D. G., Mercado, D., ✝ Ayers, J. D., ✤Van Horn, A., Alcock, J., Todd, P. M. & **Aktipis, A. (2023). Unpredictable needs are associated with lower expectations of repayment. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 4, 100095. (IF = 2.65). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2023.100095

36. Fedurek, P., Lehmann, J., Lacroix, L., Aktipis, A., Cronk, L., Makambi, E. J., ... & Berbesque, J. C. (2023). Status does not predict stress among Hadza hunter-gatherer men. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 1327. (IF = 3.8). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28119-9

37. ✝Heiman, S. L., Hirt, E. R., Isch, C., Brinkworth, J. F., Cronk, L., Alcock, J., **Aktipis, A., & Todd, P. M. (2023). Identities as predictors of vaccine hesitancy during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Journal of Social Issues. 79(2), 556-577. (IF = 5.2) https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12569

38. ✤Boddy, A. M., Rupp, S., Yu, Z., Hanson, H., Aktipis, A., & Smith, K. (2022). Early life adversity, reproductive history and breast cancer risk. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 10(1), 429-438. (IF = 3.0). https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoac034

39. ✤ Kapsetaki, S. E., ✝ Marquez Alcaraz, G., Maley, C. C., Whisner, C. M., & **Aktipis, A. (2022). Diet, microbes, and cancer across the tree of life: a systematic review. Current Nutrition Reports, 1-18. 11(3), 508-525. (IF = 4.9). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-022-00420-5

40. Wilson, K. E., Corbett, A., Van Horn, A., ✝ Beltran, D. G., ✝ Ayers, J. D., Alcock, J., & **Aktipis, A. (2022). Associations between change over time in pandemic-related stress and change in physical activity. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 18(11), 1419-1426. (IF = 2.9). https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2021-0276

41. ✝Krems, J., Williams, K., Merrie, L. A., Kenrick, D., & **Aktipis, A. (2022). Sex (Similarities and) differences in friendship jealousy. Evolution and Human Behavior 3(2):97-106. (IF = 3.0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2021.11.005

42. ✝Ayers, D.J., Krems, J.A., Hess, N. & **Aktipis, A. (2022). Mother-in-law daughter-in-law conflict: An evolutionary perspective, ethnographic review, and report of empirical data from the United States. Evolutionary Psychological Science. 8(1), 56-71. (IF = 1.4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-021-00312-x

43. Fedurek, P., Aktipis, A., Cronk, L., Makambi,E. J., Mabulla, I., Berbesque, J. C., & Lehmann, J. (2022). Social status does not predict in-camp integration among egalitarian hunter-gatherer men, Behavioral Ecology, 33(1), 65-76. (IF = 2.2). https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arab110

44. ✝Ayers, J. D., ✝Guevara Beltrán, D., ✝Van Horn, A., Cronk, L., Todd, P. M., **Aktipis, A. (2021). Younger people and people with higher subjective SES experienced more negative effects of the pandemic on their friendships, Personality and Individual Differences,185(2022), 111246. (IF = 4.6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111246

45. ✤ Campennì, M., Cronk, L., & **Aktipis, A. (2021). Need-Based Transfers Enhance Resilience to Shocks: An Agent-Based Model of a Maasai Risk-Pooling System. Human Ecology, 50(1), 35-48. (IF = 1.8). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-021-00273-6

46. Tollis, M., Ferris,.E, Campbell, M.S., Harris, V. K., Rupp, S. M., Harrison, T. M., Kiso, W. K., Schmitt, D. L., Garner, M. M., Aktipis, C. A., Maley, C. C., Boddy, A. M., Yandell, M., Gregg, C., Schiffman, J.D., Abegglen, L. M. (2021). Elephant Genomes Reveal Accelerated Evolution in Mechanisms Underlying Disease Defenses. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 38(9):3606-3620. (IF = 11). https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msab127

47. ✤ Fortunato, A., Fleming, A., **Aktipis, A., & Maley, C. C. (2021). Upregulation of DNA repair genes and cell extrusion underpin the remarkable radiation resistance of Trichoplax adhaerens. PLoS Biology, 19(11), e3001471. (IF = 9.8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001471

48. Cronk, L., **Aktipis, A. (2021). Design principles for risk-pooling systems. Nature Human Behavior 5, 825–833. (IF = 22). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01121-9

49. Cronk, L., ✝Guevara Beltran, D., Mercado, D., & **Aktipis, A. (2021). “A solidarity-type world”: Need-based helping among ranchers in the southwestern United States. Human Nature. 1-27. (IF = 2.2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12110-021-09406-8

50. ✝Claessens, S., ✝Ayers, J. D., Cronk, L., & **Aktipis, A. (2021). Need-based transfer systems are more vulnerable to cheating when resources are hidden. Evolution and Human Behavior, 42(2), 104-112. (IF = 3.0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2020.08.004

51. ✤ Townsend, C., Aktipis, A., Balliet, D., & Cronk, L. (2021). Generosity among the Ik of Uganda–Corrigendum. Evolutionary Human Sciences, 2, e23. (IF = 2.2). https://doi.org/10.1017/ehs.2021.3

52. Dujon, A., Aktipis, A., Alix-Panabières, C., Amend, S., ✤Boddy, A., Brown, J., Capp, JP., Degregori, J., Ewald, P., Gatenby, R., Gerlinger, M., Giraudeau, M., Hamede, R., Hansen, E., Kareva, I., Maley, C., Marusyk, A., McGranahan, N., Metzger, M., Nedelcu, A., Noble, R., Nunney, L., Pienta, K., Polyak, K., Pujol, P., Read, A., Roche, B., Sebens, S., Solary, E., Staňková, K., Swain E.H., Ujvari, B., & Thomas, F. (2021). Identifying key questions in the ecology and evolution of cancer. Evolutionary Applications. 14(4), 877-892.(IF = 3.9). https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13190

53. ✝Krems, J.A., Claessens, S., Fales, M.R., ✤Campenni, M., Haselton, M.G., & **Aktipis, A. (2021). An agent-based model of the female rivalry hypothesis for concealed ovulation in humans. Nature Human Behavior, 5(6), 726-735. (IF = 22). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-020-01038-9

54. *Aktipis, A. & ✝Beltran, D. G. (2021). Can some microbes promote host stress and benefit evolutionarily from this strategy?. BioEssays, 43(1), 2000188. (IF = 3.2).

55. Winfrey, P., Robertson, C., Maley, C., & Aktipis, A.** (2021). Endless Forms Most Beautiful: A Garden Shows That Cancer Is a Part of Life. Leonardo, 1-8. (IF = 0.4). https://doi.org/10.1162/leon_a_01915

56. ✝Krems, J., Williams, K., Aktipis, A., Kenrick, D. (2021) Friendship jealousy: One tool for maintaining friendships in the face of third-party threats? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 120(4), 977.(IF = 6.4). https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000311

57. Seitz, B., Aktipis, A., Buss, D.M., Alcock, J., Bloom, P., Gelfand, M., Harris, S., Lieberman, D., Natterson-Horowitz, B., Pinker, S., Sloan Wilson, D., & Haselton, M.G. (2020). The pandemic exposes human nature: 10 evolutionary insights. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(45), 27767-27776. (IF = 9.4). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2009787117

58. ✤ Boddy, A.M., Abegglen, L.M., Schiffman, J.D., Maley, C.C., Aktipis, A. & Witte, C. (2020). Does placental invasiveness lead to higher rates of malignant transformation in mammals? Response to: “Available data suggests positive relationship between placental invasion and malignancy.” Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health. 2020(1), 215-216. (IF = 3.0).

59. ✤ Boddy, A. M., Abegglen, L. M., Pessier, A. P., Aktipis, A, Schiffman, J. D., Maley, C. C., & Witte, C. (2020). Lifetime cancer prevalence and life history traits in mammals. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health. 2020 (1), 187-195. (IF = 3.0). https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoaa015

60Peer reviewed publications (pre-tenure)

1. Andor, N., Graham, T. A., Aktipis, A., Petritsch, C. K., Ji, H. P., ✝Maley, C. C. (2015). Abstract LB-163: Pan-cancer analysis of the causes and consequences of Intra-tumor heterogeneity. Cancer Research, 75(15_Supplement), LB-163. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.am2015-lb-163

2. Andor, N., Graham, T. A., Jansen, M., Xia, L. C., Aktipis, A., Petritsch, C. K., Ji, H. P., ✝Maley, C. C. (2016). Abstract 2387: Pan-cancer analysis of clonal evolution reveals the costs and adaptive benefits of genomic instability. Cancer Research, 76(14_Supplement), 2387-2387. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.am2016-2387

3. ✝Fortunato, A., King, L. M., Mallo, D., Kovacheva, V. N., Yuan, Y., ✝Boddy, A. M., Graham, T. A., Aktipis, A., Mardis, E. R., Hall, A. T., Marks, J., ✝Hwang, S., ✝Maley, C. (2017). Abstract P1-05-30: Genomic and microenvironmental intra-tumor heterogeneity in DCIS. Cancer Research, 77(4_Supplement), P1-05. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.sabcs16-p1-05-30

4. *Aktipis, A., Whitaker, R., & ✝Ayers, J. D. (2020). Do Smartphones Create a Coordination Problem for Face‐to‐Face Interaction? Leveraging Game Theory to Understand and Solve the Smartphone Dilemma. BioEssays, 42 (4), 180026. (IF = 3.2). https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.201800261

5. Fedurek, P., Lacroix, L., Lehmann, J., Aktipis, A., Cronk, L., ✝Townsend, C., Makambi, E. J., Mabulla, I., Behrends, V. & Berbesque, J. C. (2020). Status Does Not Predict Stress: Women in an Egalitarian Hunter-Gatherer Society. Evolutionary Human Sciences, 1-32. (IF = 2.2). https://doi.org/10.1017/ehs.2020.44

6. Amara, S. N. A., Kuiken, H. J., Selfors, L. M., Butler, T., Leung, M. L., Leung, C. T., Kuhn, E.P., Kolarova, T.R., Hage, C., Ganesh, K., Foster, R., Rueda, B.R., Aktipis, A., Spellman, P.T., Ince, T., Navin, N., Mills, G.B., Bronson, R.T., Brugge, J.S.S.(2020). Transient Commensal Clonal Interactions Can Drive Tumor Metastasis. Nature Communications. 11(1), 5799. (IF = 14.7). https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.01.16.907071

7. Cronk, L., Aktipis, A., Gazzillo, S., White, D., Wutich, A., & Sopher, B. (2019). Common knowledge promotes risk pooling in an experimental economic game. PLOS One, 14(8). (IF = 2.9). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220682

8. ✝May, A., ✝Narayanan, S., Alcock, J., Varsani, A., Maley, C., & **Aktipis, A. (2019). Kombucha: A novel model system for cooperation and conflict in a complex multi-species microbial ecosystem. PeerJ, 7, e7565. (IF = 2.7) https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7565

9. Whisner, C. M., **Aktipis, A. (2019). The role of the microbiome in cancer initiation and progression: How microbes and cancer cells utilize excess energy and promote one another’s growth. Current Nutrition Reports, 1-10. (IF = 4.9) https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-019-0257-2

10. Cronk, L., Steklis, D., Steklis, N., ✝van den Akker, O., **Aktipis, A. (2019) Kin terms and fitness interdependence. Evolution and Human Behavior. 40(3):281-29. (IF = 3.0). https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/8w9mg

11. ✝Fortunato, A., & **Aktipis, A. (2019). Social feeding behavior of Trichoplax adhaerens. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 7, 19. (IF=2.4) https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00019

12. Wu, D., Aktipis, A., Pepper, J. (2019). Energy Oversupply to Tissues: A Single Mechanism Possibly Underlying Multiple Cancer Risk Factors, Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, eoz004 (IF = 3.0) https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoz004

13. *Aktipis, A., Cronk, L., ✝Sznycer, D., Alcock, J., ✝Ayers, J., ✝Baciu, C., Balliet, D., ✝Boddy, A., Curry, O., ✝Krems, J., ✝Munoz, A., Sullivan, D., Wilkinson, G., Winfrey, P. (2018). Understanding cooperation through fitness interdependence. Nature Human Behavior, 2, 429:431. (IF = 22). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-018-0378-4

14. Cronk, L. & **Aktipis, A. (2018). Identity fusion and fitness interdependence. [Commentary on “Dying for the group: Towards a general theory of extreme self-sacrifice” by Whitehouse] Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 41. (IF = 16.6). https://doi.org/10.1017/s0140525x18001711

15. Ryan, S.F., Adamson, N.L., Aktipis, A., Andersen, L.K., Austin, R. Barnes, L., Beasley, M.R., Bedell, M.R., Briggs, S., Chapman, B., Cooper, C., Corn, J., Creamer, N.G., Delborne, J.A., Domenico, P., Driscoll, E., Goodwin, J., Hjarding, A., Hulbert, J.M., Isard, S., Just, M.G., Kar Gupta, K., Lopez-Uribe, M.M., O’Sullivan, J., Landis, E.A., Madden, A.A., McKenney, E.A., Nichols, L.M., Reading, B., Russell, S., Sengupta, N., Shapiro, L.R., Shell, L., Sheard, J.K, Shoemaker, D.D., Sorger, D.M., Starling, C., Thakur, S., Vatsavai, R., Weinstein, M., Wimfrey, P., Dunn, R.R. (2018). The role of citizen science in addressing grand challenges in food and agriculture research. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 285(1891), 20181977. (IF = 3.8) https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.1977

16. Jorgensen, P., Aktipis, A., Brown, Z., Carriere, Y., Downes, S., Dunn, R.R., Epstein, G., Frisvold, G.B., Hawthorne, D., Grohn, Y., Tikaramsa Gujar, G., Jasovsky, D., Klein, E.Y., Klein, F., Lhermie, G., Mota-Sanchez, D., Omoto, C., Schluter, M., Scott, H.M., Wernli, D., & Carroll, S.P. (2018). Antibiotic and pesticide susceptibility and the Anthropocene operating space. Nature Sustainability, 1(11), 632-641. (IF = 25.7). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-018-0164-3

17. ✤ Boddy, A.M., Huang, W., & Aktipis, A.** (2018). Life history trade-offs in tumors. Current Pathobiology Reports, 6(4), 201-207. (IF = 0.8). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40139-018-0188-4

18. Tidball, K. & **Aktipis, A. (2018). Feedback enhances greening during disaster recovery: A model of social and ecological processes in neighborhood-scale investment. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 34, 269-280. (IF = 6.0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2018.07.005

19. Cronk, L. & **Aktipis, A. (2018). Sacredness as an implied threat of supernatural punishment: the case of need-based transfers, Religion, Brain & Behavior, 8:3, 282-285,. (IF = 3.8). https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2017.1302978

20. Sznycer, D., Xygalatas, D., Agey, E., Alami, S., An, X., Ananyeva, K., Atkinson, Q., Broitman, B., Conte, T., Flores, C., Fukushima, S., Hitokoto, H., Kharitonov, A., Onyishi, C., Onyishi, I., Romero, P., Schrock, J., Snodgrass, J., Sugiyamaq, L., Takemurar, K., Townsend, C., Zhuang, J., Aktipis, A., Cronk, L., Cosmides, L., & Tooby, J. (2018). Cross-cultural invariances in the architecture of shame. *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America**,* 115(39), 9702-9707. (IF = 9.4) https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1805016115

21. Stanley, L., Aktipis, A, & Maley, C. (2018). Cancer Initiation and Progression within the Cancer Microenvironment. Clinical & Experimental Metastasis, 35(5), 361-367. (IF =4.2) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10585-018-9921-y

22. *Aktipis, A. & Maley, C. (2017). Cooperation and cheating as innovation: Insights from cellular societies. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 372(1735), 20160421. (IF = 6.7) https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0421

23. Maley, C., Aktipis, A., Graham, T., Sottoriva, A., ✝Boddy, A., Janiszewska, M., Silva, A., Gerlinger, M., Yuan, Y., Pienta, K., Anderson, K., Gatenby, R., Swanton, C., Posada, D., Wu, C., Schiffman, J., Hwang, S., Polyak, K., Anderson, A., Brown, J., Greaves, M., & Shibata, D. (2017). Classifying the evolutionary and ecological features of neoplasms. Nature Reviews Cancer, 17(10), 605. (IF = 72.5) https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc.2017.69

24. Lote, H., Spiteru, I., ✝Ermini, L., Vatsiou, A., Roy, A., McDonald, A., Maka, N., Balsitis, M., Bose, N., Simbolo, M., Mafficini, A., Lampis, A., Hahne, JC., Trvisani, F., Eltahir, Z., Mentrasti, G.,Findlay, C., Punta, M., Werner, B., Lise, S., Aktipis, A., Maley, C., Greves, M., Braconi, C., White, J., Fassan, M., Scarpa, A., Sottoriva, A., Valeri, N. (2017). Carbon dating cancer: defining the chronology of metastatic progression in colorectal cancer. Annals of Oncology, 28(6), 1243-1249., 28(6), 1243-1249 (IF = 56.7) https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdx074

25. ✤ Fortunato, A., ✤ Boddy, A., Mallo, D., Aktipis, A., Maley, C. C., & Pepper, J. W. (2017). Natural Selection in Cancer Biology: From Molecular Snowflakes to Trait Hallmarks. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine, 7(2), a029652. (IF = 8.3) https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a029652

26. ✤ Wasielewski, H., Alcock, J., **Aktipis A. (2016). Resource conflict and cooperation between human host and gut microbiota: implications for nutrition and health. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1372: 20–28.; (IF = 5.2). https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.13118

27. *Aktipis, A., Cronk, L., ✝De Aguilar, R (2016). Cooperation in an uncertain world: For the Maasai of East Africa need-based transfers outperform account keeping in volatile environments. Human Ecology, 44(3): 353–364. (IF = 1.8) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-016-9823-z

28. *Aktipis, A. (2016). Principles of cooperation across systems: from human sharing to multicellularity and cancer. Evolutionary Applications, 9:17–36 (IF = 3.5) https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.1230

29. Andor, N., Graham, T., Jansen, M., Xia, L., Aktipis, A., Petritsch, P., Ji, H., and Maley, C. (2016). Pan-cancer analysis of the extent and consequences of intratumor heterogeneity." Nature Medicine, 22(1): 105-113. (IF= 82.9) https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3984

30. *Aktipis, A. (2016). Life history theory and breast cancer risk: methodological and theoretical challenges, response to “Is estrogen receptor negative breast cancer risk associated with a fast life history strategy?” Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health (1), 177-179 (IF = 3.0). https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eov035

31. Hao, Y., Armbruster, D., Cronk, L., & **Aktipis, A. (2015). Need-based transfers on a network: a model of risk-pooling in ecologically volatile environments. Evolution and Human Behavior, 36(4), 265-273. (IF = 3.0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2014.12.003

32. ✤ Boddy, A. M., ✝Fortunato, A., Wilson Sayres, M, & **Aktipis, A. (2015). Fetal microchimerism and maternal health: A review and evolutionary analysis of cooperation and conflict beyond the womb. Bioessays, 37: 1106–1118. (IF = 3.2) https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.201500059

33. Maley, C.C., Koelble, K., Natrajan, R., Aktipis, A., Yuan, Y. (2015). An ecological measure of immune-cancer colocalization as a prognostic factor for breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research 17 (1) (IF = 6.1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-015-0638-4

34. *Aktipis, A., ✝Boddy, A., Jansen, G., Hochberg, M., Maley, C., Hibner, U., Wilkinson, G. (2015). Cancer across life: Cooperation and cheating in multicellularity. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, (370)1673, 20140219, (IF = 6.7) https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2014.0219

35. ✤ Boddy, A., Kokko, H., Breden, F., Wilkinson, G. **Aktipis, A., (2015). Cancer susceptibility and reproductive tradeoffs: A model of the evolution of cancer defenses. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 370(1673), 20140220. (IF = 6.7) https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2014.0220

36. Brown, J., **Aktipis, A., (2015). Inclusive fitness effects can select for cancer suppression into old age. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 370(1673), 20150160. (IF = 6.7) https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2015.0160

37. Hidaka, B. H., Asghar, A., Aktipis A., Nesse, R.M., Wolpaw, T.M., Skursky, N.K., Bennett, K.J., Beyrouty, M.W., Schwartz, M.D. (2015). The status of evolutionary medicine education in North American medical schools. BMC Medical Education, 15(1): 38. (IF = 3.08) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-015-0322-5

38. Jansen, G., Gatenby, B., **Aktipis, A. (2015). Control vs. eradication: Adopting strategies from infectious disease treatment to cancer. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112.4 937. (IF = 9.4)

39. *Aktipis, A., Ellis, B.J., Nishimura, K. ✝, Hiatt, R.A., (2015). Modern reproductive patterns associated with estrogen receptor positive but not negative breast cancer susceptibility. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health (2014): eou028. (IF = 3.0). https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eou028

40. Jansen, G., & **Aktipis, A. (2014). Resistance Is Mobile: The Accelerating Evolution of Mobile Genetic Elements Encoding Resistance. Journal of Evolutionary Medicine. Vol. 2, Article ID 235873 (IF = 0.25). https://doi.org/10.4303/jem/235873

41. Alcock, J., Maley, C.C., **Aktipis, A. (2014). Is eating behavior manipulated by the gastrointestinal microbiota? Evolutionary pressures and potential mechanisms. Bioessays. 36(10), 940-949. (IF = 3.2). https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.201400071

42. Bryant, G, Aktipis, A. (2014). The animal nature of spontaneous human laughter. Evolution and Human Behavior, 35(4), 327-335. (IF = 3.0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2014.03.003

43. *Aktipis, A., ✝Boddy, A., Brown, J., Gatenby, R, Maley C. C. (2013). Life history tradeoffs in cancer evolution. Nature Reviews Cancer, 13, 883-892. (IF = 72.5) https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc3606

44. *Aktipis, A., Nesse, R. (2013). Evolutionary foundations for cancer biology. Evolutionary Applications, 6(1) 144-159. (IF = 3.94) https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12034

45. Sprouffske, K, Aktipis, A., Radisch, J.P., Carroll, M, Nedelcu, A. M., Maley, C. C. (2013). An evolutionary explanation for the presence of cancer non-stem cells in neoplasms. Evolutionary Applications, 6(1) 92-101. (IF = 3.94)

46. *Aktipis, A., Maley, C.C., Pepper, J. W. (2011). Dispersal evolution in neoplasms: The role of disregulated metabolism in the evolution of cell motility. Cancer Prevention Research, 5(2) 266-275 (IF = 2.9) https://doi.org/10.1158/1940-6207.capr-11-0004

47. *Aktipis, A., Kwan, V.S.Y., Johnson, K. A., Neuberg, S.L., Maley, C.C. (2011) Overlooking evolution: A systematic analysis of cancer relapse and therapeutic resistance research. PLoS ONE, 6(11): e26100. (IF = 2.9). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0026100

48. *Aktipis, A. (2011). Is cooperation viable in mobile organisms? Simple Walk Away strategy favors the evolution of cooperation in groups. Evolution and Human Behavior, 32(4) 263-276. (IF = 3.04). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2011.01.002

49. *Aktipis, A., Cronk, L., ✝De Aguilar, R. (2011). Risk-pooling and herd survival: An agent-based model of a Maasai gift-giving system. Human Ecology, 39(2) 131-140. (IF = 1.8) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-010-9364-9

50. *Aktipis, A., Fernandez-Duque, E. (2011). Parental investment without kin recognition: Simple rules for parent-offspring behavior. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 65(5) 1079-1091. (IF = 1.8)

51. *Aktipis, A., Thompson-Schill, S. (2010) Positive assortment for peer review. Adaptive Behavior, 18(5) 448-450. (IF= 1.2) https://doi.org/10.1177/1059712310384281

52. Phillips-Silver, J., **Aktipis, A., Bryant, G. (2010). The ecology of entrainment: Foundations of coordinated rhythmic movement. Music Perception, 28 (1) 3-14. NIHMSID # 289838. (IF = 1.3) https://doi.org/10.1525/mp.2010.28.1.3

53. Bendick, R., Dahlin, K.M., Smoliak, S., Kumler, L., Jones, S., Aktipis, A., Fugate, E., Hertog, R., Moberg, C., Scott, D. (2010). Choosing carbon mitigation strategies using ethical deliberation. Weather, Climate and Society, 2(2), 140-147. (IF= 2.2) https://doi.org/10.1175/2010wcas1036.1

54. Kurzban, R.; Aktipis, A. (2007). Modularity and the social mind: Are Psychologists too self-ish? Personality and Social Psychology Review, 11(2), 131-149. (IF= 8.6)

55. *Aktipis, A. (2006). Recognition memory and the evolution of cooperation: How simple strategies succeed in an agent-based world. Adaptive Behavior, 14, 239-247. (IF = 1.2) https://doi.org/10.1177/105971230601400301

56. *Aktipis, A. (2004). Know when to walk away: Contingent movement and the evolution of cooperation. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 231(2), 249-260. (IF = 1.9) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2004.06.020

57. *Aktipis, A.; Kurzban, R.O. (2004). Is Homo economicus extinct? Vernon Smith, Daniel Kahneman and the Evolutionary Perspective. Evolutionary Psychology and Economic Theory, Advances in Austrian Economics, 7, 135-153. (IF = 1.1).

58. Wakeland, W.W.; Gallaher, E.J; Macovsky, L.M.; **Aktipis, A. (2004). A comparison of system dynamics and agent-based simulation applied to the study of cellular receptor dynamics. *37**th* Annual Conference of the Hawaii International Complex System Society, January 2004. https://doi.org/10.1109/hicss.2004.1265242

59. *Aktipis, A. (2000). The effect of behavioral assortment on selection dynamics: Externalities, information processing and subjective commitment. Eilis Boudreau and Carlo Maley, eds., Proceedings of the Artificial Life VII Workshops, 90-93.

60. *Aktipis, A. (2000). An evolutionary perspective on consciousness: The role of emotion, theory of mind and self-deception. The Harvard Brain: Journal of Mind, Brain and Behavior, 7, 29-34.

4Books

10Chapters, preprints and other contributions (post-tenure)

* indicates papers for which I am first author; ** indicates where I am senior author; ✝ indicates graduate student, trainee or post-doc authors mentored by me

1. Cronk, L., **Aktipis, A. (2019). Virtual Cattle and Actual Friends. Anthropology News, 60(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/an.1115

2. ✝Alcaraz, G. M., ✝Kapsetaki, S. E., Aktipis, A., Whisner, C. M. (2023). On the Hunt for Cancer’s Microbial “Party” in the Animal Kingdom. Frontiers for Young Minds, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/frym.2023.1006057

3. ✝Yavari, B., Kolbehdari, N., Gann, L., Portillo, M., Rumschlag, A., Aldridge, M., Mellon, W., ✝Alcaraz, G. M., Richker, H. I., Sarkissian, M., Compton, Z. T., Aktipis, A., ✝Maley, C. C., Baciu, C. (2024). The Digital Health Revolution: Exploring the Impact of Online Cancer Information on Self-Reported Preventive Behaviors. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.20.24307517

4. ✝Ayers, J., **Aktipis, A. (2025). Friendships aren’t just about keeping score – new psychology research looks at why we help our friends when they need it. https://doi.org/10.64628/aai.scpt39cgx

5. ✝Ayers, J. D., ✝Beltrán, D. G., Mercado, D. L., **Aktipis, A. (2025). Friendship promiscuity as indexed by preferences for wide networks and intimacy with many friends: structure and validity of a new construct. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/89ywf_v1

6. *Aktipis A., & Guevara Beltran D., (2023) Review of “Work, Love, and Learning in Utopia: Equality Reimagined”, Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 24:1, 141-143,. https://doi.org/10.1080/19452829.2022.2137656

7. ✝ Guevara Beltran D., Isch C., ✝ Ayers J. D., Alcock J., Brinkworth J. F., Cronk L. , Hurmuz-Sklias H.,Tidball K., Van Horn A., Todd P. M., **Aktipis A., The role of Perceived Risk, Stress, and Future Orientation on Mask Wearing During COVID-19 Department of Psychology, Arizona State University.

8. ✝ Ayers, J. D., ✝ Beltrán, D. G., ✤Van Horn A., Hurmuz-Sklias, H., Cronk, L., Todd, P. M. Aktipis, A. Wishing our friends would take it seriously: What predicts concern about friends’ behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic? All data and code for this study are available at: https://osf.io/jkt9c/? view_only=be11b5093a134a2c97fedccce54ef73a.

9. Tidball, K. G., ✤Van Horn, A., ✝Guevara Beltran, D., ✝Ayers, J.D., Cronk, L., **Aktipis, A. (2021). Parks, Urgent Biophilia, Interdependence, and Resilience During Times of Crisis: The COVID19 Example. In The Transformative Power of Parks. Eds. Fix, P., Larson, L., Lekies, K., Park, S., Skoll, K., Tidball, K., & Stein, T. Sagamore Venture Publishing.

10. ✝Guevara Beltran, D., Isch, C., ✝Ayers, J.D., Alcock, J., Brinkworth, J.F., Cronk, L., Hurmuz-Sklias, H., Tidball, K., Van Horn, A., Todd, P. M., & **Aktipis, A. (2021) Mask wearing behavior across routine and leisure activities during COVID-19. PsyArXiv https://.org/ https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/2qya8

15Chapters, preprints and other contributions (pre-tenure)

1. *Aktipis, A. (2010). Why We Cooperate by Michael Tomasello, with Carol Dweck, Joan Silk, Brian Skyrms and Elizabeth Spelke .. Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, 13.

2. Anderson, M. R., **Aktipis, A. (2010). The Origins of Collective Overvaluation: Irrational exuberance emerges from simple, honest and rational individual behavior. eScholarship (California Digital Library), 32(32).

3. Cronk, L., Berbesque, C., ✝Conte, T., ✤ Gervais, M., ✝Iyer, P., ✝McCarthy, D., ✝Sonkoi, D. ✤ Townsend, C., **Aktipis A. (2019). Managing risk through cooperation: Need-based transfers and risk pooling among the societies of the Human Generosity Project. In Global Perspectives on Long-Term Community Resource Management, Lozny, L.R., and McGovern, T.H., eds. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15800-2_4

4. *Aktipis, A. (2017). Genetic conflict and the monster. In Frankenstein: A New Edition for Scientists and Engineers. The MIT Press. P122. 2017

5. Greaves, M. & **Aktipis, A. (2016). Mismatches with Our Ancestral Environments and Cancer Risk. In C. Maley & M. Greaves (Eds.), Frontiers in Cancer Research (pp. 195-216). New York, NY: Springer.

6. Schiffman, J.D., White, R.M., Graham, T.A., Huang, Q., **Aktipis, A. (2016). The Darwinian Dynamics of Motility and Metastasis. In C. Maley & M. Greaves (Eds.), Frontiers in Cancer Research (pp. 135-176). New York, NY: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6460-4_8

7. *Aktipis, A., (2016) Revolutionary biology: Evolutionary biology and ecology of cancer summer school supports a growing field. This View of Life, July 19. https://thisviewoflife.com/revolutionary-biology-evolutionary-biology-and-ecology-of-cancer-summer-school-supports-a-growing-field/

8. Cronk, L., & Aktipis, A. (2015). The Human Generosity Project. Anthropology News, July/August 2015, pages 31-32

9. Gazzillo, S., Sopher, B., Aktipis, A., & Cronk, L. (2013). The origins of risk sharing: An experimental approach. Working Paper No. 2013-02, Department of Economics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.

10. *Aktipis, A., Maley, C.C. (2011). The self-ish cell: Cancer’s emerging evolutionary paradigm. Evolution and Medicine Review (August 9). http://evmedreview.com/?p=764.

11. *Aktipis, A., Maley, C. C., & Neuberg. S. L. (2010). Psychological barriers to evolutionary thinking in medicine. Evolution and Medicine Review (Feb 24). http://evmedreview.com/?p=231

12. *Aktipis, A. (2010). Book review of ‘Why we cooperate’ by M. Tomasello. Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation 13(3) http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/13/3/reviews/7.html

13. *Aktipis, A. (2008). When to Walk Away and when to stay: Cooperation evolves when agents can leave unproductive partners and groups. Dissertation.

14. Kurzban, R.; Aktipis, A. (2007). On detecting the footprints of multilevel selection. Gangestad, S. W. & J. A. Simpson (Eds.) Evolution of Mind: Fundamental Questions and Controversies. New York: Guilford, 226-232.

15. Kurzban, R. O., Aktipis, A. (2006). Modular minds, multiple motives. Shaller, M; Simpson, J & Kenrick, D. (Eds.) Evolution and Social Psychology, 39-53. New York: Psychology Press.

10Manuscripts under review

* indicates papers for which I am first author; ** indicates where I am senior author; ✝ indicates graduate student, trainee or post-doc authors mentored by me

1. ✝Gibson, A., ✝Ayers, J. D., Parmeggiani, C., ✝Alcaraz, G. M., Jungwirth, A. R., Ellison, C. E., Bassel, G., Maynard, A., Cronk, L., **Aktipis, A. Cooperation Science: Mapping the Landscape of a New Discipline. PsyArXiv; 2024. Pending revision at Quarterly Review of Biology. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/2yqj8

2. ✝Van Horn, A., Mercado, D. L., ✝Guevara-Beltran, D., Hurmuz-Sklias, H., Tidball, K. G., Cronk, L., Todd, P. M., & Aktipis, A. (accepted, pending revision). Time Enough at Last: Fear of infection and boredom drive time dilation during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

3. Maley, C., Nedelcu, A., Boddy, A., & Aktipis, A. (pending revision). Multicellular Cooperation and the Hallmarks of Cancer: A New Foundation. Evolution, Medicine and Public Health (EMPH).

4. *Aktipis, A., (under revision). The cheater detector of the genome: A signal detection analysis of TP53 activation predicts differential patterns of cancer suppression across species. Evolution, Medicine and Public Health

5. Alcock, J., **Aktipis, A**., ✝Boddy, A., Day, T., Femling, J., Flinn, M., Hochberg, M., Jansen, G., Read, A., Maley, C. (under review). Heuristics for DOCS: defining a new normal in medicine. *Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health*

6. ✝Guevara-Beltran, D., Isch, C., ✝Ayers, J., Alcock, J., Brinkworth, J., Cronk, L., Hurmuz-Sklias, H., Tidball, K., ✝Van Horn, A., Todd, P. & Aktipis, A. (under review). In-person Interactions, Large-Group Gatherings, and Mitigating Behaviors during COVID-19.

7. ✝Guevara-Beltran, D., Isch, C., ✝Ayers, J., Alcock, J., Brinkworth, J., Cronk, L., Hurmuz-Sklias, H., Tidball, K., ✝Van Horn, A., Todd, P. & Aktipis, A. (under review). The role of Perceived Risk, Stress, and Future Orientation on Mask Wearing During COVID-19.

8. ✝Guevara Beltran, D., ✝Ayers, J. D., Kwon, J.Y., A., Todd, P. M., & Aktipis, A. (under review). Helping in Times of Need Cultivates Empathic Concern Over Time.

9. ✝Guevara Beltran, D., ✝Ayers, J. D., Cronk L., Balliet, D. P., Koster J., & Aktipis, A. (submitted). Sources of fitness interdependence associated with shared fate and cooperation in a small-scale horticultural society.

10. Laplane, L., Lamoureux, A., Richker, H., Marquez Alcaraz, G., Fortunato, A., Shaffer, Z., Aktipis, A., Mischel, P., Plutynski, A., Townsend, J., & Maley, C. (invited & submitted to PLoS Biology Magazine ). Multilevel Selection in Cancer.

7Grants (post-tenure)

$2M directs in total grants post-tenure (2020 to present)

1. What rules of life allow collectives to effectively manage risk? (NSF GR44330) Aktipis is PI and project Director. Total funding is $1,500,00 with $982,637 direct costs for 2023-2027.

2. Apocalypse Pop Up Cafes. Lincoln Center for Ethics, Arizona State University. Aktipis is PI. $1,500. This grant funds 3 Apocalypse Pop-Up Cafes which will be facilitated by Aktipis with the goal of building a foundation for effective collaborations among researchers across ASU.

3. Developing the Field of Cooperation Science: Exploring human nature and cultural evolution through interdisciplinary research. John Templeton Foundation. Aktipis is Co-PI and project Co-Director. Total funding is $234,041 for 2020-2022.

4. Mutual aid in the contemporary United States: A proposal for new empirical research. Charles Koch Foundation. Aktipis is Co-PI and project Co-Director. Total funding is $228,938 for 2020-2022.

5. Cooperation in the times of COVID19. Institute for Mental Health Research. Aktipis is PI. $5,000 direct. 2020.

6. Museum Labs 2.0: Social Science Experiments on Cooperation (NSF AISL1811043). Exploratorium Museum San Francisco: Josh Gutwill, PI & Heike Winterheld, Co-PI. Aktipis is scientific advisor. Total project: $300,000. 2023 - 2026.

7. Ecology, Interdependence, and Cooperation. European Research Council. Aktipis is Advisor. Total project is 2 million Euro. 2020 - 2025.

13Grants (pre-tenure)

$8.2M directs in grants pre-tenure (2010 to 2019)

1. Arizona Cancer Evolution Center. Applying models of evolution to cancer across scales, from species down to cells. (NIH U54). Drs. Carlo Maley and Darryl Shibata Co-PIs. Aktipis is co-Investigator. $6,225,000 direct costs/yrs 1-5. Aktipis funding is $83,055 direct/yrs 1-5, 3/1/18-2/28/23

2. Interdisciplinary Cooperation Initiative. Arizona State University. Aktipis is PI and project Director. Total funding is $375,000 for 2018 – 2023.

3. The C Word (Betsy on the run). A narrative podcast about cancer. Funded through Arizona Cancer Evolution Center pilot projects award. Aktipis is Producer together with Pamela Winfrey. Awarded $6,000 total. 2019.

4. Generous by Nature: The Human Generosity Project. John Templeton Foundation. Aktipis was PI along with Cronk, total funding was $1,700,000 in direct costs 7/1/14-7/1/17.

5. Breakthrough Award DoD/Breast Cancer Research Program Genomic and Microenvironmental Diversity as Drivers of Progression in DCIS (Drs. Carlo Maley and Shelley Hwang PIs) Aktipis was co-investigator with funding of $58,690 total direct/yrs 1-5 6/1/14-5/31/19

6. Genomic and Microenvironmental Diversity as Drivers of Metastasis in DCIS PQC3 (NIH/NCI, R01 Drs. Carlo Maley and Shelley Hwang Co-PIs) Aktipis was co-Investigator with funding of $36,348 direct/yrs 1-4, 4/1/14-3/31/18

7. Endless Forms Most Beautiful: Cactus Garden at ASU. Frankenstein Bicentennial Small Grants Program at ASU. Aktipis is PI, along with Maley and Winfrey. Awarded $5,000 total.

8. Application of Evolutionary Principles to Maintain Cancer Control PQ21 (NIH/NCI R01CA170595-01, Dr. Robert Gatenby PI) Aktipis was co-Investigator with $369,408 direct/yrs 1-4 7/1/12-6/30/16

9. Modeling the causes and consequences of the evolution of cell motility in neoplasms (NIH F32 CA144331, Aktipis was PI, with funding of $156,000 5/1/2010- 5/1/2013)

10. Modeling neoplastic progression in Barrett’s esophagus (R01 CA140657, Drs. Pepper and Maley, Co-PIs) NIH 7/1/09-6/30/10, Aktipis was Postdoctoral Fellow. Total direct was $457,257.

11. Exploring the applicability of the osotua sharing rule to address fragmented water governance in Arizona, 2010. Decision Center for a Desert City, Arizona State University Aktipis was PI, funding of $42,000

12. Russell Ackoff Research Grant, Wharton Risk Management and Decision Processes Center, U Penn, 2005 Aktipis was PI, funding of $2,200

13. Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation 2003-2007, Aktipis was PI (approx. $150,000)

7ASU service, University

2018–present

Director, ASU Interdisciplinary Cooperation Initiative

2022–present

Assistant Director of Research, Global Futures Laboratory

2025

Organizer and facilitator, Societal Will Workshop, Global Futures Laboratory, Jan 31

2023

Co-produced and hosted 5 video series for ASU’s Learning Sparks on cooperation and risk

2020

Host and co-producer of “The Science of Zombification” on ASU’s YouTube Channel

2020

Instructor, Innovation Week (December 7-11) & Innovation Quarter (December 14, 21, & Jan 4)

2018–2021

Behavioral Genomics ASU Leadership Academy Team member

3ASU service, College

2019–2020

Center for Evolution and Medicine, Search Committee

2017–2018

Selection committee for Harry Lowell Swift Advancing Health Scholarship

2016–2017

ASU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences CLAS Special Research Committee

12ASU service, Psychology Department

2025–present

Incoming Area Head, Social Psychology Area, Department of Psychology

2024–2026

Faculty Evaluation Committee, Department of Psychology

2024

Cialdini Speaker Series Research Fund Committee, Department of Psychology

2023–2024

Co-Organizer with Mike McBeath, Psychology Music Jam

2022–2023

Co-Organizer, Cross Area Talks (CAT)

2023

Promotion Committee for Kathy Johnson (Research Professor)

2022

Created exhibitions, EMERGE festival, ASU https://emerge.asu.edu

2020–2023

Member, Psych4All Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee

2016–2023

Created art exhibitions, ASU Open Door & ASU Homecoming Activities

2017

Created exhibitions, EMERGE festival, ASU https://emerge.asu.edu/emerge-2017

2016–2017

Psychology Chair Search Committee

2015–2016

Faculty Evaluation of Teaching Committee, Psychology

4Elected positions

2024–26

President, International Society for Evolution, Ecology and Cancer

2020–22

Incoming President, International Society for Evolution, Ecology and Cancer

2018–20

Vice President, International Society for Evolution, Ecology and Cancer

2013–14

Fellows Representative, Institute for Advanced Study, Wissenschaftskolleg, Berlin

24Conference organizing

2025

Conference Chair, Zombie Apocalypse Medicine Meeting, Eureka Springs, Arkansas Oct 20-23

2024

Conference Chair, Zombie Apocalypse Medicine Meeting, Eureka Springs, Arkansas Oct 21-24

2024

Program Committee, International Society for Evolution, Medicine and Public Health, Durham UK Aug 6-9

2024

Program Committee, Cancer Evolution: From Genome to Ecology,. International Society for Evolution, Ecology and Cancer, Hixton, UK May 8-10

2022

Conference Chair, Zombie Apocalypse Medicine Meeting, Arizona State University, Oct 20-23

2020

Conference Chair, Zombie Apocalypse Medicine Meeting, Arizona State University, Oct 15-18

2020

Organizer, ASU Interdisciplinary Study of Cooperation Winter School, Arizona State University, Jan 6-10

2019

Organizer, International Society for Evolution, Ecology and Cancer Conference, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, UK, July 17-19

2019

Organizer, 2nd ASU Cooperation and Conflict Symposium, ASU, May 2

2018

Conference Chair, Zombie Apocalypse Medicine Meeting, Arizona State University, Oct 18-21

2018

Scientific Organizer, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Cancer Summer School, Cambridge, UK. Wellcome Trust Genome Cancer, June 4-8

2017

Organizer, International Society for Evolution, Ecology and Cancer Conference, ASU, Dec 7-10

2017

Co-Organizer, America’s Longest War, Against Cancer, Future Tense & New America, Washington DC, April 27

2017

Organizer, Fitness Interdependence Workshop, Saguaro Lake Ranch, February 17-18

2017

Organizer, 1st ASU Cooperation and Conflict Symposium, ASU, February 16

2015–16

Chair of Membership, International Society for Evolution, Ecology and Cancer

2016

Scientific Organizer & Lecturer, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Cancer Summer School, Cambridge, UK. Wellcome Trust Genome Cancer, July 11-15

2016

Organizer, Risk, Disasters and Need-based transfers workshop, ASU, Jan 15-16

2015

Organizer, Kinship, Conflict and Cooperation: Reconceptualizing kinship for the 21st century, Wissenschaftskolleg, Berlin Germany, Oct 29-31

2015

Organizer, International Society for Evolution, Ecology and Cancer Conference, UCSF Dec 10-13

2015

Organizer, Helping and resilience in the face of disaster workshop, ASU Jan 15-16

2013

Organizer, Second Biannual Evolution and Cancer Conference, UCSF, June 13-16

2011

Organizer, First Biannual Evolution and Cancer Conference, UCSF, June 3-6

2000

Organizer, Cooperation and Multi-level Selection workshop at Artificial Life VII Conference and Editor of Proceedings

16Reviewing activities

2024

Ad hoc reviewer for PLOS Computational Biology

2012–22

Associate Editor, Journal of Evolutionary Medicine

2019

Grant Reviewer for European Research Council

2018

Ad hoc reviewer for Perspectives in Psychological Science

2018

Ad hoc reviewer for eLIFE

2018

Ad hoc reviewer for Nature Reviews Cancer

2018

Ad hoc reviewer for Nature Communications

2013

Ad hoc reviewer for Evolutionary Applications

2012

Guest Editor, Evolutionary Applications special issue, Evolution and Cancer

2010

Ad hoc reviewer for PLOS One

2010

Ad hoc reviewer for Journal of Evolutionary Psychology

2006

Ad hoc reviewer for Journal of Theoretical Biology

2005

Ad hoc reviewer for Current Anthropology

2004

Ad hoc reviewer for Adaptive Behavior

2004

Ad hoc reviewer for Evolution and Human Behavior

2006

Guest Editor for special issue of Adaptive Behavior on the Evolution of Cooperation

19Invited workshops

2017

Cooperation Databank small group meeting, Organized by Amsterdam Cooperation Lab, Taormina, Italy.

2017

Living with Resistance Working Group. National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, MD

2016

Living with Resistance Working Group. National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, MD

2015

Kinship, Conflict and Cooperation: Reconceptualizing kinship for the 21st century, Wissenschaftskollege, Berlin Germany (Organizer)

2013

Evolutionary Medicine Education Working Group, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center

2013

Catalysis meeting on Evolutionary and Social Science Approaches to Human Cooperation, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center

2012

National Academy of Sciences, Chinese-American Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposium

2011

National Academy of Sciences, Sackler Colloquium: Biological Embedding of Early Social Adversity

2011

The Theory of Cooperation Workshop, Adelboden, Switzerland

2010

National Academy of Sciences, Sackler Colloquium: In the Light of Evolution V: Cooperation

2009

NSF Microbes to Metazoans: Regulation, Dynamics and Evolution of Social Behavior Workshop, Georgia Institute of Technology

2009

Illinois Biology and Politics Summer Institute, University of Illinois

2008

NSF Debating Science Program, Center for Ethics Workshop, University of Montana

2005

Institute for Humane Studies, Summer Workshop on Human Nature and Social Change, University of Virginia

2001

Summer Institute on Bounded Rationality, Max Planck Institute, Berlin

2000

NIH Complexity in Evolutionary Biology course, U Knoxville

2000

NIH Mathematics and Biological Complexity course, U Knoxville

1999

Economic Science Laboratory, Experimental Economics Graduate Student Workshop U Arizona

1999

American Psychological Association Summer Science Institute, UC Berkeley

4Advisory positions

2023

Board member, Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative

2012

Scientific Advisor, Exploratorium Museum in San Francisco

2012–14

National Evolutionary Medicine Education working group member, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center

2012–14

Executive Board Member, Institute for Drug Resistance

1Non-profit service

2020–present

Founder, Producer, Zombified Media (https://www.zombifiedmedia.org)

25Articles for broad audiences (post-tenure)

I have been writing articles for broad audiences for Scientific American, Slate, and The Conversation since tenure. This allows me to reach general audiences and also to engage students with accessible writing.

2026

Aktipis, A., Brooks, R. (2026, March 11). A Real Maternal AI Would Want You to Be Nicer - To Everyone. Not for Peer Review, Substack. https://athenaaktipis.substack.com/p/a-real-maternal-ai-would-want-you

2026

Aktipis, A. (2026, March 1). We Need AIs That Understand Trust in the Prisoner's Dilemma and War Games. Not for Peer Review, Substack. https://athenaaktipis.substack.com/p/we-need-ais-that-understand-trust

2026

Aktipis, A. (2026, February 23). Access Granted. Not for Peer Review, Substack. https://athenaaktipis.substack.com/p/access-granted

2026

Aktipis, A. (2026, February 12). Leveraging The Science of Cooperation to Build a Positive Future for Humanity. Not for Peer Review, Substack. https://athenaaktipis.substack.com/p/leveraging-the-science-of-cooperation

2026

Aktipis, A. (2026, January 17). Why We Need Benchmarks For AI Cooperation And Friendship. Not for Peer Review, Substack. https://athenaaktipis.substack.com/p/why-we-need-benchmarks-for-ai-cooperation

2026

Aktipis, A. (2026, January 1). It Costs a Lot to Win - and Even More to Lose. Not for Peer Review, Substack. https://athenaaktipis.substack.com/p/it-costs-a-lot-to-win-and-even-more

2025

Aktipis, A., Nadur, V. (2025, December 23). Today's alcohol would knock our ancestors out cold. Not for Peer Review, Substack. https://athenaaktipis.substack.com/p/todays-alcohol-would-knock-our-ancestors

2025

Aktipis, A. (2025, December 17). I Played the Prisoner’s Dilemma with AI. Not for Peer Review, Substack. https://athenaaktipis.substack.com/p/does-ai-cooperate-in-the-prisoners

2025

Aktipis, A. (2025, November 30). Why You Should Have A Beer With Your Pizza. Not for Peer Review, Substack. https://athenaaktipis.substack.com/p/why-you-should-have-a-beer-with-your

2025

Aktipis, A., Arthur, P. (2025, November 26). Go Fast, Die Young: Ecological Succession in the World of AI. Not for Peer Review, Substack. https://athenaaktipis.substack.com/p/go-fast-die-young-ecological-succession

2025

Aktipis, A. (2025, November 23). Stop Trying to Align AI. Start Brewing Better Ecosystems. Not for Peer Review, Substack. https://athenaaktipis.substack.com/p/stop-trying-to-align-ai-start-brewing

2025

Aktipis, A. (2025, November 9).What Evolution Can Teach Us About Aligning with AI. Not for Peer Review, Substack. https://athenaaktipis.substack.com/p/what-cooperation-science-can-teach

2025

Aktipis, A. (2025, November 5). I've Been Filling Notebooks for Decades. Here's Why I'm Finally Sharing Them. Not for Peer Review, Substack. https://athenaaktipis.substack.com/p/start-here-opening-my-notebooks

2025

Aktipis, A. (2025). Created the Survival Game for the Exploratorium Museum of Science, SF. https://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/survival-game

2025

Aktipis, A. (2025, February 16). Prepping isn’t just for preppers anymore—it’s time to get a go-bag. Popular Science. https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-make-a-prepper-go-bag

2023

Aktipis, A. (2023, October 23). Could Your City Survive the Zombie Apocalypse? Imagining flesh-eating enemies can help you prepare for closer-to-home disasters podcast, Slate/Future Tense, https://slate.com/technology/2023/10/zombie-apocalypse-checklist.html

2023

Aktips, A., Scrivener, C. (2023, October 19). It’s time to prepare for your personal zombie apocalypse, Slate/Future Tense https://slate.com/technology/2023/10/zombie-apocalypse-checklist.html

2023

Aktipis, A., Scrivener, C. (2023). The Evolutionary Reasons We Are Drawn to Horror Movies and Haunted Houses, Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-evolutionary-reasons-we-are-drawn-to-horror-movies-and-haunted-houses1

2023

Aktipis, A. (2023, January 31). Microbes in your food can help or hinder your body’s defenses against cancer – how diet influences the conflict between cell ‘cooperators’ and ‘cheaters’,The Conversation, https://theconversation.com/microbes-in-your-food-can-help-or-hinder-your-bodys-defenses-against-cancer-how-diet-influences-the-conflict-between-cell-cooperators-and-cheaters-195810

2021

Aktipis, A. (2021, October 14). Contagious cancers in animals are a warning to humans. Slate.

2021

Aktipis, A. & Alcock, J. (2021, March 8). A year into the pandemic, the coronavirus is messing with our minds as well as our bodies. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/a-year-into-the-pandemic-the-coronavirus-is-messing-with-our-minds-as-well-as-our-bodies-155213 https://doi.org/10.64628/aai.pqqcaq553

2021

Aktipis, A. & Tidball, K. (2021, May 11). How Each of Us Can Prepare for the Next Pandemic. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-each-of-us-can-prepare-for-the-next-pandemic/

2021

Aktipis, A. (2021, January 1). How Evolution Helps Us Understand Cancer and Control It. Scientific American.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-evolution-helps-us-understand-cancer-and-control-it

2020

Aktipis, A. (2020, May 28). The Secret She Never Knew essay for Transformations series, part of the LA Review of Books https://www.transformationnarratives.com/blog/2020/05/28/the-secret-she-never-knew

2020

Aktipis, A. & Alcock, J. (2020, June 17). How the coronavirus escapes an evolutionary trade-off that helps keep other pathogens in check. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/how-the-coronavirus-escapes-an-evolutionary-trade-off-that-helps-keep-other-pathogens-in-check-140706 (more than 200K reads in English and Spanish) https://doi.org/10.64628/aai.vas7a9h43

4Articles for broad audiences (pre-tenure)

2020

Aktipis, A.(2020) Beautiful monsters: Cancer is part of multicellular life. Now the riotous growth of crested cacti show how humans might adapt to live with it. Aeon https://aeon.co/essays/crested-cacti-show-medicine-the-possibility-of-adapting-to-cancer

2020

Aktipis, A. (2020, April 1). Now Is the Time to Prepare for Future Emergencies: Zombies, pandemic, whatever it might be—use this opportunity to take stock and stock up (responsibly). Slate https://slate.com/technology/2020/04/coronavirus-pandemic-emergency-preparedness-zombies.html

2019

Aktipis, A., (2019) Is cancer a disease of civilization? This View of Life, April 2. https://thisviewoflife.com/is-cancer-a-disease-of-civilization

2017

Aktipis, A. (2017, April 20). Cancer Has Been With Us Since the Origins of Multicellularity, and It’s Not Going Anywhere. Slate http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2017/04/cancer_has_been_with_us_since_the_origins_of_multicellularity.html

25Public outreach and media coverage (post-tenure)

2025

Interviewed for an article titled How to manage stress during an apocalypse, published by Harvard Gazette, covering a talk I delivered at Harvard.

2025

Interviewed for an article titled Cooperation - The Ancient Technology That Never Goes Absolete, published by The John Templeton Foundation.

2024

Interviewed for an article titled How to Cooperate with Difficult People, published by LinkedIn News.

2024

Interviewed by Jessica DuLong for an article titled Preparing for the apocalypse: Here’s why collaboration is essential, published by CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/11/health/apocalypse-disasters-teamwork-athena-aktipis-wellness/index.html

2024

Interviewed by Rachel Feltman for an article titled *Cooperation Is the Key to Surviving the** * Apocalypse, published in Scientific American. www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/a-zombie-expert-shares-advice-on-how-to-survive-the-a pocalypse

2024

Interviewed by Matthew LaPlante on the podcast, UnDisciplined. How to survive the end of the world.

2023

Interviewed by Andrew Maynard for The Future of Being Human… Unplugged podcast, Arizona State University, What happens when AI and cooperation science collide? Could research on interspecies cooperation transform how we think about living with advanced artificial intelligence in the future With Mark Daley (University of Western Ontario), December 19 https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.edu/2023/11/03/what-happens-when-ai-and-cooperation-science-collide

2023

Interviewed by Andrew Maynard for The Future of Being Human… Unplugged podcast, Arizona State University, with Paul Rainey (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology); Exploring the possibilities of developing symbiotic relationships with artificial intelligence in the future, November 20 https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.edu/2023/10/22/living-with-your-ai-symbiont

2023

Interviewed by Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Halloween advice: Prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse, October 30 https://thebulletin.org/2023/10/why-you-should-prepare-for-a-zombie-apocalypse

2023

Interviewed by ASU News, Arizona State University, Deadly serious zombie studies; ASU professor explores the positive side of zombie apocalypse narratives, October 27

2023

Zombies Can Teach Us About Surviving the Apocalypse talk, Center for Science and the Imagination, Arizona State University, October 23 https://csi.asu.edu/calendar/events/what-zombies-can-teach-us-about-surviving-the-apocalypse-online

2023

Dead Talk: Zombies are Real talk at Haunted Garage Film Festival, October 6 https://hauntedgaragehorrorfilmfest.eventive.org/schedule/dead-talk-athena-atipkis-q-a-64f7ba5f3f26810079e22080#!

2023

PUP Speaks: Athena Aktipis on the evolutionary drivers of cancer, July 17

2023

Conversation on the Liberal Arts: Athena Aktipis, “Education in the Apocalypse: Teaching and Learning in Times of Uncertainty, Westmont College, March 8 https://youtu.be/BdArkUmSoHw

2023

Interviewed by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris for 8000 Hours podcast, Athena Aktipis on why cancer is actually one of the fundamental phenomena in our universe https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/athena-aktipis-cancer-cooperation-apocalypse

2014–20

Scientific Advisor to Exploratorium Science Museum in San Francisco, developing exhibits about risk pooling and need-based transfer systems to teach public about human cooperation as part of ‘The Science of Sharing’ exhibition; also teaching the public about social psychology and cooperation theory research as an advisor for the new exhibit ‘Museum Labs 2.0.’

2022

Interviewed by David Sloan Wilson to appear in his Science of the Noosphere conversation series, in a conversation with Michael Levin entitled Cancer, Cheating and Cell Communication https://humanenergy.io/athena-aktipis-and-michael-levin

2021

Interviewed by Noema, a magazine published by The Berggruen Institute, about my work on cooperation and generosity https://www.noemamag.com/the-other-invisible-hand

2021

Interviewed by Forbes Magazine about my work on the evolution of concealed ovulation https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccacoffey/2021/01/29/estrus-and-the-evolution-of-mean-girl-behavior-like-slut-shaming-among-women/?sh=2b79121c606b

2020

Interviewed by Popular Science Magazine about my work on cooperation and human generosity https://www.popsci.com/story/science/bigq-caring-about-sharing

2020

Launched The Cooperation Science Network, a new interdisciplinary, multi-institution network that brings together cooperation scholars from across the disciplines https://www.cooperationscience.org

2020

Launched Cooperation in the Apocalypse, a new interdisciplinary, multi-institution team to study how COVID19 and other crises are impacting cooperation https://www.cooperationintheapocalypse.org

2020

Launched Channel Zed, a new interdisciplinary endeavor featuring news, entertainment, and lifestyle programming for the Zombie Apocalypse https://www.channelzed.org

2020

Interviewed by the Smithsonian about the newly launched book, The Cheating Cell https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/cheating-cell-cancer-athena-aktipis-180974794

2020

Interviewed by Wall Street Journal about new approaches to cancer research and treatment https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-approach-to-cancer-treatment-draws-lessons-from-darwin-11578414469

37Public outreach and media coverage (pre-tenure)

2019

Interviewed by Forbes about my work on Kombucha https://www.forbes.com/sites/linhanhcat/2019/09/16/kombucha-model-ecosystem/?ref=altdnt

2019

Interviewed by Arizona PBS about the Zombified podcast https://www.pbs.org/video/06-12-2019-innovation-zone-zombified-podcast-catalyst-pgeirx

2019

Created a new podcast, Zombified – launched on June 11th: https://www.zombified.org

2019

Interviewed by Phoenix Magazine about the crested cactus garden: https://www.phoenixmag.com/2019/03/15/the-cactus-cure

2019

Interviewed about The Human Generosity Project for an article published in Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-a-more-generous-society-possible

2018

Interviewed by NPR Arizona about the Cactus Garden “Endless Forms Most Beautiful” http://kjzz.org/content/736335/discovering-new-cancer-treatments-studying-cacti

2018

Interviewed by Arizona PBS for the Catalyst series about the Human Generosity Project https://azpbs.org/horizon/2018/05/catalyst-explores-how-generosity-can-be-scientifically-measured

2018

Interviewed by AzFamily News about the 1st Zombie Apocalypse Medicine Meeting (Oct 18-21, 2018, ASU) https://www.azfamily.com/news/asu-hosts-first-ever-zombie-apocalypse-medicine-meeting/article_0abe3be6-d352-11e8-b6ab-a394172f6060.html

2018

Interviewed by the State Press about the collaboration with London artists Boredom Research http://www.statepress.com/article/2018/09/spscience-british-artists-are-using-asu-cancer-research-to-create-visualizations

2018

Interviewed by AzFamily News about romance scams https://www.azfamily.com/video/video-mesa-woman-loses-k-in-romance-scam/video_937001f0-0dbf-5653-a9f0-8d652a5d13f1.html

2018

Spoke to Spirit of the Senses, an art and culture salon in the Phoenix area on the topic “Who Are We Really?”

2018

Spoke at “Sip of Science”, series of talks organized by the ASU Biodesign Institute,“Zombies are Real: Are microbes controlling my mind?” https://biodesign.asu.edu/news/microbes-may-be-controlling-your-mind-says-asu-biodesign-researcher-final-sip-science-talk

2018

Interviewed by Ricardo Lopes, a YouTube science host, about the Cooperation and Conflict, From Cells to Human Societies: https://youtu.be/lVX3WE6H4NA

2018

Interviewed by The Harvard Gazette regarding public lecture at Harvard Museums, for article titled “Before cancer kills, it cheats” https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/04/harvard-talk-envisions-path-to-containing-cancer/

2017

Interviewed by Channel 3 about cooperation and cheating for a story about a “Romance Scam”

2017

Spoke to Spirit of the Senses, an art and culture salon in the Phoenix area on the topic “The Microbiome and Psychology”

2017

Wrote “Why Cancer Isn’t Going Anywhere” for Slate Magazine http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2017/04/cancer_has_been_with_us_since_the_origins_of_multicellularity.html

2017

Spoke on the Storycraft Podcast on “Cancer from an evolutionary angle”

2016

Interviewed by the New Scientist about the Osotua, Maasai’s generosity tradition and practice

2016

Interviewed by The Daily Dot about the implications of human sharing behavior for Uber, Lyft and the sharing economy http://www.dailydot.com/debug/uber-lyft-social-norms/

2016

Spoke at first TedX event Arizona State University on the topic “Do you believe in Generosity?” Video available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlOO0rD7QvI

2016

Panelist in forum at Franciscan Renewal Center on the topic “The Source of Personal Power: Merely Human and Intrinsically Divine,” spoke about my work on the power to leave when others don’t cooperate, the power to help others in need, and the power to ask for help when in need.

2016

Created and ran “Game of Clones” event at ASU Emerge Festival to engage public in cancer as a break down of cellular societies. https://biodesign.asu.edu/news/game-clones-cancer-wars-emerge-2016

2016

Interviewed by The Evolution Institute on the topic “ Cancer and the transformation of life”. https://evolution-institute.org/the-evolutionary-ecology-of-cancer-an-interview-with-athena-aktipis/

2015

Spoke at the Exploratorium Museum in San Francisco about The Science of Sharing: https://www.exploratorium.edu/video/science-sharing-forum-athena-aktipis

2015

Spoke to Spirit of the Senses, an art and culture salon in the Phoenix area on the topic “The Human Generosity Project”

2015

Interviewed by New York Times and other news outlets after publication of “Cancer across life: Cooperation and cheating in multicellularity”. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/science/cellular-cheaters-give-rise-to-cancer.html?_r=0

2015

The Human Generosity Project covered in High Country News story “Good neighbors”. https://www.hcn.org/issues/47.21/why-being-a-good-neighbor-is-a-good-idea

2015

Spoke to Spirit of the Senses, an arts and culture salon in the Phoenix area on the topic “Cancer as cheating in multicellular cooperation.”

2015

Interviewed by New York Times, National Geographic, and other news outlets after publication of “Fetal microchimerism and maternal health: A review and evolutionary analysis of cooperation and conflict beyond the womb”

2015

Spoke on the Here We Are Podcast about “Cancer + Game Theory”

2015

Interviewed by The Naked Scientists for article titled “Cancer Across Kingdom” https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/interviews/athena-aktipis-cancer-across-kingdom

2014

Interviewed for National Public Radio, New York Times, ABC News and many other media outlets after publication of “Is eating behavior manipulated by the gastrointestinal microbiota? Evolutionary pressures and potential mechanisms.” http://blog.bigpicturescience.org/2014/10/big-picture-science-whos-controlling-whom-athena-aktipis-g ut-decisions/

2014

Public lecture at the Institute for Advanced Study in Berlin (Wissenschaftkolleg) “Cancer Evolution” on April 2: http://www.wiko-berlin.de/wikothek/lectures-on-film/2014-c-athena-aktipis-andrew-read/

2014

Interviewed for Newsweek article about evolutionary approaches to cancer treatment: http://mag.newsweek.com/2014/03/28/war-against-cancer-alternative-cancer-treatments.html

2014

Interviewed on National Public Radio about cooperation in cancer and among humans

2014

Interviewed by University of California San Francisco for article “Do Gut Bacteria Rule Our Minds”. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/08/116526/do-gut-bacteria-rule-our-minds

14Classroom instruction

2020–present

Associate Professor, Psychology Department, Arizona State University Cooperation (Spring 2024, 2025) Science of Zombification (Spring 2023, 2024, 2025) Communication for Scientists (Fall 2022) Cooperation and Social Behavior (Spring 2021)

2015–2020

Assistant Professor, Psychology Department, Arizona State University Evolution, Ecology and Behavior (Spring 2016) Cooperation and Social Behavior (Fall 2016) Intro Evolutionary Psychology (Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019) Microbiome and Social Behavior (Spring 2018) Communication for Scientists (Spring 2020)

2020

Organizer and Faculty, Interdisciplinary Cooperation Winter School at Arizona State University (http://www.aktipislab.org/winter-school)

2016

Faculty, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Cancer Summer School at Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge UK

2016

Faculty, Interdisciplinary College, Transitions and Transformations in Cognition, Biology, and Interactive Systems, Guenne Germany

2012

Faculty, Evolutionary Medicine Summer School at Mt. Desert Island Biological Lab Lecturer on evolution and cancer, discussion leader

2010

Adjunct Professor, U Penn Dept. of Psychology Prosocial Behavior course, teaching and course preparation for new course

2005

Teaching Assistant, U Penn Dept. of Psychology Introduction to Psychology course, teaching, exam design and grading

2005–06

Instructor, Institute for Research in Cognitive Science, U Penn Undergraduate Summer Workshop in Cognitive Science, teaching

2004

Teaching Assistant, U Penn Dept. of Psychology Animal Behavior course, teaching, exam design and grading

2002–2003

Instructor and Course Developer, Portland State U, Systems Science Department Agent-based simulation course, teaching and course prep. for graduate level course

1999–2003

Intern, Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics (AWSEM) Teaching and lab design for weekly club meeting of grade school, middle school and high school students. The AWSEM program is a vertical mentoring system designed to encourage young women to pursue careers in the sciences.

1999

Tutor, Score Prep Tutor for Score Prep, company specializing in preparing high school juniors for the SAT.

1998

Educator, Illinois Energy Education Development (ILEED) Environmental educator at Dupage County recycling center.

6Current and past graduate students

2024–present

Bernardo Seixas, Ph. D. Student (1st year), Aktipis is co-mentor with Dr. Steven Neuberg

2022–present

Ona Wang, Ph.D. Student (3rd year, SHESC), Aktipis is co-mentor with Dr. Polly Wiessner

2021–present

Gissel Marquez Alcaraz, Ph.D. Student (4th year, SOLS), Aktipis is co-mentor with Dr. Carlo Maley

2017–2023

Diego Guevara Beltran, Ph.D; Beltran is now an incoming Assistant Professor at University of Arizona

2016–2022

Jessica Ayers, Ph.D.; Ayers is now an Assistant Professor at Boise State University

2015–2020

Andres Munoz, M.A. Munoz is currently working in cybersecurity

3Chair or co-chair of graduate student dissertation committee

In progress Gissel Marquez Alcaraz, Evolution in the Face of Perturbation [tentative title]

2023

Diego Guevara Beltran Helping in Times of Need Increases Dispositional Empathic Concern over Time

2022

Jessica Ayers Does Genetic Conflict Contribute to Pregnancy Complications and Postpartum Health and Behavior?

4Chair or co-chair of graduate student comprehensive exam

In progress Ona Wang

2024

Gissel Marquez Alcaraz, Evolutionary Management Through Perturbation

2023

Diego Guevara Beltran, When Does Adversity Bring People Together, and Might We Need a Little More?

2022

Jessica Ayers, How Genetic Conflict Influences Humans Psychology and Behavior

4Chair or co-chair of graduate student masters thesis

2021–present

Gissel Marquez Alcaraz, Evolutionary Management Through Perturbation

2017–2023

Diego Guevara Beltran, When Does Adversity Bring People Together, and Might We Need a Little More?

2016–2022

Jessica Ayers, How Genetic Conflict Influences Humans Psychology and Behavior

2015–2020

Andres Munoz, Cognitive Mechanisms for Detecting Greediness and Stinginess Are Not Attuned to Resource Necessity and Unpredictability

8Undergraduate PSY 499 thesis students

2019–24

Zoe Gould-Thompson, Blinded by Love: Why do Women Fall for Manipulative Men?

2020–21

Dylan Stephenson, How does affect influence asking for help?

2020–21

Sakshi Chandak, Sexual harassment in organizations

2019–20

Manasa Swaminathan, Theory of mind influences friendship quality

2019–20

Cameron Vardaman, Online vs. offline aggression: anger, reputation, and anonymity

2018–19

William Middleton, Prosociality, Attraction, and Likelihood of Romantic Encounter

2018–19

Maya Schatzki-Lumpkin, Morbid Curiosity, an Evolutionary Perspective

2018–19

Nicole Hudson, Resource scarcity’s influence on competition

9Undergraduate Barrett honors students

2020–22

Ndeye Yague, Self-Esteem, Explicit/Implicit Messaging, and Reactance

2020–21

Madison Harmon, Intimate Partner Violence Comparison between Heterosexuals, Lesbians, and Gay

2019–21

Skyelyn Riggs-Davis, Social welfare and cheater detection strategies

2020–21

Kali Draper, Tabletop Roleplaying Games and Motivation to Empathize

2019–20

Danielle Patterson, Reputation, self-deception, and life history strategy

2019–20

Lauren Highstrete, Attitudes towards asking for help: effects of perceived social status on help-seeking behaviors

2017–18

Aaron Tavarez, The Relationship Between Group Member Interdependence and Group Creative Processes

2016–17

Alyssa Reyes, Terrorism and Interdependence: A Study of Altruism

2015–16

Mitchell (Sophia) Dunkelberger, Responses to Cheating in Need-Based Transfers: An Agent Based Model

3Undergraduate Energize students

Energize Students program is dedicated to helping at-risk students succeed.

2022–23

Andre Ramirez

2020–20

Brandon Hunter

2020–20

Laura Silva Soto

19Undergraduate students, Cooperation Scholars Program

Between 2022 and 2023, I have developed and ran the Cooperation Scholars Program, a mentoring program for undergraduate students which served 20 students and provided them with research experience and career mentoring opportunities.

2022–23

Lailah Smith

2022–23

Karen Nguyen

2022–23

Galilea Martinez Mota

2022–23

Gallai Sahak

2022–23

Shravya Aragam

2022–23

Guadalupe Bustamante

2022–23

Andre Ramirez

2022–23

Zoe Gould-Thompson

2022–23

Bryan Yavari

2022–23

Emma Oyen

2022–23

Esther Low

2022–23

Lauren Sands

2022–23

Kristal Jensen

2022–23

Alaina Wong

2022–23

Sabrina Seifert

2022–23

Mimi Fina

2022–23

MJ Sarraf

2022–23

David Lukacik

2022–23

Rocio Nicole Lopez

24Undergraduate students, Z-Team

Between 2020 and 2023, I have developed and ran the Z-Team, a mentoring program for undergraduate students which served 24 students and provided them with research and science communication experience, and career mentoring opportunities.

2022–23

Kristal Jensen

2022–23

Vicky Ticay

2022–23

Danielle Pais

2022–23

Brandon Vega

2022–23

Ashley Gomez

2022–23

Mengen Dang

2022–23

Bretton Barnhill

2020–22

Isabel Glass

2020–22

Anna Tesch

2020–22

Skye Riggs-Davis

2020–22

Wid Alsabah

2020–22

Kali Draper

2020–22

Danielle Patterson

2020–22

Megan Nelson

2020–22

Brianna Chen

2020–22

Victoria Dong

2020–22

Cierra Flood

2020–22

Michelle Jang

2020–22

Alexandra Johnson

2020–22

Mary Haddad

2020–21

Dua Zaheer

2020–21

Matthew Groholski

2020–21

Gibson Yost

2020–21

Emily Engel

8Post docs

2020–2022

Andrew van Horn, Postdoctoral Researcher

2019–2022

Stefania Kapsetaki, Postdoctoral Researcher

2016–18

Helen Wasielewski, Postdoctoral Researcher

2013–17

Amy Boddy, Postdoctoral Researcher now Associate Professor in Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara

2016–17

Marco Campenni, Postdoctoral Researcher

2016–17

Daniel Sznycer, Postdoctoral Researcher now Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma

2016–17

Angelo Fortunato, Postdoctoral Researcher now Assistant Research Professor, Arizona State University

2016

Hillary Lenfesty, Postdoctoral Researcher

10Interns and volunteers

2022–2023

Arek Rein Jungwirth, Volunteer and Research Assistant

2019–20

Savanna Soldevere, Research Assistant

2018–2021

Gissel Marquez Alcaraz, Volunteer and Research Assistant

2017–2019

Shrinath Narayanan, Volunteer and Research Assistant now a graduate student in the Erasmus program

2017

Scott Claessens, Intern on the Human Generosity Project now a postdoc, University of Auckland

2017

Christine Campbell, Intern on the Microbiome and Human Behavior Project

2016–17

Jennifer Inzunza, Research Assistant

2016–18

Alex May, Research Assistant

2016

Olmo van den Akker, Intern on the Human Generosity Project graduate student at the University of Amsterdam

2015–16

James Medina, Research Assistant graduate student at Washington University in St. Louis

10Human Generosity and Mutual Aid Projects trainees

In addition to the students/postdocs that I mentor directly, I also Co-Direct the Human Generosity Project with Lee Cronk, an Anthropologist at Rutgers University and therefore I co-mentor(ed) several of Cronk’s students, listed below.

2020–2022

Andrew van Horn, Mutual Aid in the US Postdoctoral Fellow at Rutgers University

2016–2017

Matthew Gervais, HGP Postdoctoral Fellow at Rutgers University

2016–2018

Cathryn Townsend, HGP Postdoctoral Fellow at Rutgers University

2016

Dennis Sonkoi, HGP Graduate Student at Rutgers University

2014

Thomas Conte, HGP Graduate Student at Rutgers University

2016–2017

Brighid McCarthy, HGP Graduate Student at Rutgers University

2010–2017

Padmini Iyer, HGP Graduate Student at Rutgers University

2008–2014

Rolando de Aguiar, HGP Graduate Student at Rutgers University

2017

Anna Flaherty, HGP Undergraduate at Rutgers University

2016–2018

Andy Chang, HGP Undergraduate at Rutgers University

11Highlighted presentations (post-tenure)

In this section, I highlight international and national invited presentations of particular note. A full list of presentations can be found at the end of this document.

1. 2026

   2026 University of Oxford, Biological Relativity, Evolution for the 21st Century: Future Directions in Evolution Research, In and Outside of Academia, 7-9 January Cooperation from Cells to Societies

2. 2025

   2025 Harvard Science Center, March 27th The Apocalypse Roadshow: An alternative book tour for A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving our Wild Times

3. 2024

   2024 Washington University in St. Louis. Program in Public Scholarship, October 16 Translating Scientific Research for General Audiences

4. 2024

   2024 University of New South Wales. Australian National Science Week, August 14 Book Talk: A Field Guide to the Apocalypse, Athena Aktipis and musical guest Ryan Biter

5. 2023

   2023 The Royal Swedish Academy Of Sciences, Stockholm, November 9 Hope in the Anthropocene: It is not too late! Athena Aktipis in discussion with Rebecca Solnit

6. 2023

   2023 Margo Wilson Memorial Lecture, Hamilton, Ontario,.October 9 Managing Risk through Cooperation: What small-scale societies and other species can teach us about how to manage risk collectively.

7. 2023

   2023 J. James Woods Lecture Series, Butler University, April 26 The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer

8. 2022

   2022 The Oxford Literary Festival, Oxford, UK, April 3 The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps us Understand and Treat Cancer.

9. 2022

   2022 One Humanity Writing Collective, a collaboration between Syllble Studios and The Innovation Station: Creative Industry Lab at the U.S. Department of State, March 16 Sharing resources and sharing risk: Lessons from small-scale societies about how to manage catastrophic risk and survive the apocalypse

10. 2020

    2020 The VI St. Petersburg International Oncology Forum “White Nights 2020”, St. Petersburg, Russia, and online, June 25-28 Cancer as cellular cheating: The evolutionary roots of cancer and the future of cancer control

11. 2020

    2020 Duke University, TriCEM, May 26 Evolution in the flesh: How cancer cells evolve to cheat the foundations of multicellular cooperation and what this means for cancer treatment and prevention

38Highlighted presentations (pre-tenure)

1. 2019

   2019 Invited Plenary Address, Templeton World Charity Foundation; Character, Social Connections and Flourishing in the 21st Century, The Bahamas, December 3-6 Cooperation in the Apocalypse: The science of human nature in times of disaster

2. 2019

   2019 Keynote Address, Wellcome Trust Genome Center, Cancer Evolution and Ecology Conference, July 19 Transmissible cancer and the evolution of cellular cheating

3. 2019

   2019 Invited talk, University of California Santa Barbara, May 17 Cooperation in the apocalypse: The science of human generosity

4. 2019

   2019 Invited talk, Cornell University, Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, April 23 Do need-based transfer systems offer a viable alternative to market-based systems?

5. 2019

   2019 Invited talk, Harvard University, Human Evolutionary Biology Department, April 17 Is cooperation through need-based transfers part of the human behavioral repertoire? Managing risk, making friends and monitoring cheating in an uncertain world

6. 2019

   2019 Invited talk, Harvard University, Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, April 16 Reciprocity and generosity: Two sides of the same coin or entirely different currencies?

7. 2019

   2019 Invited talk, Georgia Institute of Technology, Integrated Cancer Research Center, April 11 Cancer suppression and the evolution of multicellularity

8. 2019

   2019 Invited talk, American Association for Cancer Research, Atlanta, April 1 Cooperation, Multicellularity and Cancer: How cancer cells evolve to cheat and cooperate in the multicellular milieu

9. 2019

   2019 Invited talk, University of British Columbia, BIG Research Day, Vancouver, March 14 Cooperation incarnate: How regulation and cheater detection stabilize cooperation from cells to human societies

10. 2019

    2019 Invited talk, University of British Columbia, Department of Psychology, March 15 How generosity, cheating, and exploitation shape our world, from human social groups to cellular societies

11. 2018

    2018 Invited talk, Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, May 1 Cellular cheating in cancer: Evolutionary and ecological dynamics in cancer initiation and progression

12. 2018

    2018 Invited talk, Dean’s Distinguished Lecture, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, April 20 Cooperation incarnate: From human sharing to the evolution of multicellularity

13. 2018

    2018 Invited talk, Harvard Museums, Boston, MA, April 4 Why Cancer is Everywhere

14. 2017

    2017 Invited talk, Special Seminar Series on Evolutionary Medicine, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plon, Germany, September 8 Cooperation theory for cancer biology: Is cancer a cellular cheater?

15. 2017

    2017 Invited talk, America’s Longest War, Against Cancer, Future Tense & New America, Washington DC, April 27 Changing The Way We Think About Beating Cancer

16. 2017

    2017 Invited talk, Evolution and Restraint of Malicious Behavior in Complex Systems Santa Fe Institute, February 6-7 How do large scale systems solve the problem of cheating?

17. 2016

    2016 Plenary address, Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Vancouver BC, July 1 Cooperation from Cells to Societies

18. 2016

    2016 TedX, Arizona State University Do you believe in Generosity?

19. 2015

    2015 Invited talk, Mayo Clinic Individualizing Medicine Conference, Rochester MN, Sept 21 Cooperation, conflict and the promise of comparative oncology *

20. 2015

    *2015 Invited talk, The Science of Sharing Forum, Exploratorium Science Museum, SF, CA, June 6 Cooperation in multicellularity and other social systems

21. 2015

    2015 Invited talk, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Chicago IL, May 29 Evolutionary approaches to cancer treatment

22. 2015

    2015 Invited talk, Young Presidents Organization Global Digital Forum, San Francisco, May 6 The origins and future of human sharing

23. 2014

    2014 Invited talk, Harvard University, Human Evolutionary Biology Seminar Series, Nov 13 Cooperation and sharing across systems: From human sharing to multicellularity

24. 2014

    2014 Public lecture, Institute for Advanced Study (Wissenschaftkolleg), Berlin, Germany, Feb 4 Cancer Evolution

25. 2014

    2014 Invited talk, Symposium on Evolution and Cancer, Lisbon, Portugal, June 24 Cancer and the evolution of somatic cheating

26. 2013

    2013 Invited talk, Striking a moving target: Challenges and chances for immunotherapy of cancer, Munich, Germany, May 26-27 Evolution of metastasis and immune evasion

27. 2013

    2013 Invited talk, Ecological and Evolutionary Perspectives on Cancer conference, Roscoff, France, Challenges and opportunities in the evolution and ecology of cancer, Nov 3

28. 2013

    2013 Invited talk, American Association for Cancer Research, DC, April 10 Evolution under resource limitation: Models of motility and metastasis

29. 2013

    2013 Chapman Keynote Research Lecture, Kansas University Medical Center, April 5 Fundamental questions in cancer evolution: Knowns and unknowns

30. 2013

    2013 Grand Rounds, Evolutionary Medicine Month, UCLA, February 6 Evolutionary foundations for cancer biology

31. 2012

    2012 National Academy of Science Chinese-American Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposium, Oct 11-14. Solving the paradox of breast cancer susceptibility: Evolution and estrogen receptors

32. 2011

    2011 Invited talk, Evolution and Extravagant Altruism Speaker Series, U Mich., ISR, Jan 9 Beyond reciprocity and kin selection: Is it time to rethink the foundations of cooperation theory?

33. 2011

    2011 Lecturer, The Theory of Cooperation Workshop, August 11-13, Adelboden, Switzerland. The evolution of cooperation across domains: Simple rules and complex social organization

34. 2010

    2010 Invited talk, Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Evolutionary Preconference, Las Vegas, Jan 28. Walk the Walk: Models of mobility and the evolution of cooperation

35. 2009

    2009 Plenary address, European Social Simulation Association Conference, U Surry, Sept 14-18 The simplicity of cooperation: Conditional movement rules promote cooperation

36. 2009

    2009 Invited talk, UCLA Center for Behavior Evolution and Culture, May 27. Walking Away from the Haystack:
Conditional movement and the evolution of cooperation

37. 2009

    2009 Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University, April 20. Social norms and simple rules: Agent-based models of cooperation

38. 2008

    2008 Invited talk, Principles of Repurposing Workshop, Santa Fe Institute, July 14-16. Decentralized redesign: Insights from principles in the evolution of cooperation

9International (post-tenure)

✝ represents a student or post-doc contributor

1. 2026

   2026 University of Oxford, Biological Relativity, Evolution for the 21st Century: Future Directions in Evolution Research, In and Outside of Academia, 7-9 January

   Invited talk: Cooperation from Cells to Societies

2. 2024

   2024 Turin Book Fair, Turin, Italy, May 11

   Invited talk: The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps us Understand and Treat Cancer

3. 2023

   2023 Invited talk:, Hope in the Anthropocene, The Royal Swedish Academy Of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden It is not too late! A discussion with Author Rebecca Solnit, November 9

4. 2023

   2023 Invited talk: Margo Wilson Memorial Lecture, Hamilton, Ontario,.October 9 Managing Risk through Cooperation: What small-scale societies and other species can teach us about how to manage risk collectively, November 9

5. 2023

   2023 Invited talk:, Ergodicity Economics, London Mathematical Laboratory, January 13 “It all comes out in the wash”: Risk pooling and need-based transfers in The Human Generosity Project

6. 2023

   2023 Invited talk-virtual:Federal University of Parana, Reconstructing the World After the Zombie Apocalypse, Curitiba,Paraná, Brazil October 31,2022

7. Cognitive Science Society Annual Conference, Toronto, Canada, July 27-30

   Invited Symposium Talk: The Science of Surviving (and Thriving) In the Apocalypse

8. 2022

   2022 The Oxford Literary Festival, Oxford, UK, April 3

   Invited Talk: The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps us Understand and Treat Cancer

9. 2020

   2020 The VI St. Petersburg International Oncology Forum “White Nights 2020”, St. Petersburg, Russia, and online, June 25-28

   Invited Talk: Cancer as cellular cheating: The evolutionary roots of cancer and the future of cancer control

26International (pre-tenure)

1. 2019

   2019 Templeton World Charity Foundation; Character, Social Connections and Flourishing in the 21st Century, Nassau, The Bahamas, December 3-6 Invited Plenary Address: Cooperation in the Apocalypse: The science of human nature in times of disaster

2. 2019

   2019 International Society for Evolution, Ecology and Cancer, Hinxton, UK, July 17-19

   Keynote: Transmissible cancers and the evolution of cellular cheating: How multicellularity evolved to protect cellular cooperation and limit invasion

3. 2019

   2019 6th Aegean Arts Festival, July 8, Crete, Greece

   Invited Talk: Cooperation in the Apocalypse: The science of human generosity

4. 2019

   2019 University of British Columbia, BIG Research Day, March 14, Vancouver, Canada

   Invited Talk: Cooperation incarnate: How regulation and cheater detection stabilize cooperation from cells to human societies

5. 2019

   2019 University of British Columbia, Department of Psychology, March 15, Vancouver, Canada Invited Talk How generosity, cheating, and exploitation shape our world, from human social groups to cellular societies

6. 2018

   2018 Human Behavior and Evolution Society Conference, July 4-7, Amsterdam, Netherlands

   Talk: Sociality and the microbiome: How human social interactions influence the evolution of microbial fitness effects on hosts

   Talk: Reconceptualizing kinship in terms of fitness interdependence (Authors: Cronk, L., Steklis, D., Steklis, N., van den Akker, O., & Aktipis, A.)

   Talk: Influence of culture on sharing behavior among “selfish” Ik former hunter-gatherers (Authors: Townsend, C., Cronk., L., & Aktipis., A.)

   Poster: Are there rules in friendship? (Authors: ✝Ayers, J., Krems, J.A., Aktipis, A.)

   Talk: What threatens our friendships? Cause(s) of friendship jealousy (Authors: Krems, J.A., Williams, K., Kenrick, D., & Aktipis, A.)

7. 2018

   2018 2nd Javea Workshop on Social and Evolutionary Psychology, June 28 – July 1, Javea, Spain

   Talk: Sociality Fitness interdependence and the study of human cooperation: Bridging evolutionary and social approaches through computational modeling, fieldwork and empirical psychology

8. 2017

   2017 Congress of European Society of Evolutionary Biology, August 20 – 25, Groningen, Netherlands

   Poster: Coevolution of cancer defences and body size: can birds beat cancer? (Authors: ✝Erten, E.Y., Sprouffske, K., Aktipis, A., Kokko, H.)

9. 2017

   2017 Mathematical Models in Ecology and Evolution, July 10 – 12, London, UK

   Poster: Cell-level life history trade-offs under cancer risk (Authors: ✝Erten, E.Y., Aktipis, A., Maley, C., Kokko, H.)

10. 2017

    2017 17th International Conference on Social Dilemmas, June 20 – 23, Taormina, Italy

    Talk: The challenges of cheater detection in large scale cooperation: From Human societies to the evolution of multicellularity and cancer

11. 2016

    2016 Human Behavior and Evolution Society Conference, June 29–July 2, Vancouver, Canada Plenary address: Cooperation from cells to societies

    Talk: Ecologies of risk-pooling: an agent-based modeling approach to model social behavior in a volatile environment (Authors: ✝Campenni, M., Cronk, L., & Aktipis, A.)

    Talk: Fetal microchimerism and maternal health: Cooperation and conflict beyond the womb (Post doc award competition: ✝Amy Boddy)

    Poster: Evolutionary dynamics of the human oral microbiome (Authors: ✝Wasielewski, H., Maldonado, J., Alcock, J., Mandel, N., Krajmalnik-Brown, R., & Aktipis, A.)

12. 2016

    2016 Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Cancer Summer School, Lecturer, July 11-19, Cambridge, UK

13. 2016

    2016 Interdisciplinary College, Faculty, Guenne Germany, March 4-11, Gunne, Germany

14. 2015

    2015 10th Gottinger Freilandtage, German Primate Center, Gottingen, Germany

    Talk: Spatial-temporal constraints on risk-pooling strategies in volatile environments: An agent-based model of foraging behavior (Authors: ✝Campenni, M., Cronk, L., & Aktipis, A.)

15. 2014

    2014 Champalimaud Foundation, Symposium on Evolution and Cancer, June 24, Lisbon, Portugal

    Invited Talk: Cancer and the evolution of somatic cheating

16. 2014

    2014 Striking a moving target: Challenges and chances for immunotherapy of cancer, May 26-27, Munich, Germany

    Invited Talk: Evolution of metastasis and immune evasion

17. 2013

    2013 Evolutionary and Ecology Perspectives in Cancer, Nov 3, Roscoff, France

    Invited Talk: Challenges and opportunities for evolutionary and ecological approaches to cancer

18. 2013

    2013 Institute for Cancer Research, June 25, UK

    Invited Talk: Applying ecology to cancer

19. 2011

    2011 The Theory of Cooperation workshop, August 11-13, Adelboden, Switzerland

    Invited Talk: The evolution of cooperation across domains: How simple rules give rise to complex social organization

20. 2011

    2011 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, June 29-July 4, Montpellier, France

    Talk: Breast cancer from a life history perspective

21. 2009

    2009 Evolution and Medicine Symposium, University of Lausanne, Nov 5-6, Switzerland

22. 2009

    2009 Evolution, Cooperation and Rationality Conference, Sept 18-20, University of Bristol

    Poster: Is self-interest the state of the world? The ability to Walk Away promotes the evolution

    of cooperation

23. 2009

    2009 European Social Simulation Association Conference, Sept 14-18, University of Surry Plenary address: The simplicity of cooperation: Conditional movement rules promote cooperation

24. 2004

    2004 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, July 21-24, Berlin, Germany

    Talk: When the going gets tough, the nice get going: Contingent movement and the evolution of cooperation in groups.

25. 2001

    2001 Max Planck Institute for Adaptive Behavior and Cognition, Summer Institute on Bounded Rationality, Berlin, Germany, August

    Poster: Future discounting and vividness

26. 2001

    2001 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, University College London, June 14-17, England

    Poster: Future discounting and prosocial decision-making

17National (post-tenure)

✝ represents a student or post-doc contributor

1. 2023

   2023 Global Futures Lab, ASU, Now is the Time Sandbox, February 8-9 Invited talk Design Principles for Pooling Risk

2. 2023

   2023 University of New Mexico, Department of Psychology, March 24

   Invited talk: Cooperation in times of crisis: Lessons from small-scale societies about how to manage catastrophic risk and survive the apocalypse

3. 2023

   2023 Paleopathology Association, February 27 Invited talk, Cancer as an Ancient Disease - Past and Implications for the Present

4. 2023

   2023 Darwin Day, Lone Star College-Kingwood, February 10

   Invited talk: The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer

5. 2023

   2023 Global Futures Lab, ASU, December 19

   Invited talk:The Future of Being Human, What happens when AI and cooperation science collide, discussion with Andrew Maynard, ASU and Mark Daley, University of Western Ontario

6. 2023

   2023 Society for Literature, Science and the Arts, ASU October 29

   Invited talk: Visions of Scale: Managing risk through cooperation at scale

7. 2023

   2023 Global Futures Lab, ASU, November 21

   Invited talk: The Future of Being Human, Living with your AI Symbiont, A discussion with Andrew Maynard, ASU and Paul Rainey, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 2023

8. Princeton University Press July 17

   Invited talk: Writing to Influence: What Academia Offers in Times of Crisis

9. 2023

   2023 University of New Mexico, March 24

   Invited talk: Cooperation in times of crisis: Lessons from small-scale societies about how to manage catastrophic risk and survive the apocalypse

10. 2023

    2023 NNCI Winter School, ASU, January 9,

    Invited talk: Cooperation and risk management

11. 2022

    2022 One Humanity Writing Collective, a collaboration between Syllble Studios and The Innovation Station: Creative Industry Lab at the U.S. Department of State, March 16 Invited virtual talk: Sharing resources and sharing risk: Lessons from small-scale societies about how to manage catastrophic risk and survive the apocalypse

12. 2021

    2021 Evolutionary Studies Program, Binghamton University, March 15 Invited virtual talk: The Cheating Cell:How cancer evolves inside us and how we can keep it under control

13. 2020

    2020 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at ASU, September 21 Invited virtual talk: Why Cancer Is Everywhere

14. 2020

    2020 Institute for Mental Health Research, September 9 Invited virtual talk: Cooperation in the Time of COVID: Implications for Mental Health

15. 2020

    2020 ASU SFIS Public Interest Technologies (PIT) Colloquium, August 26 Invited virtual talk: Cooperation in the Time of COVID

16. 2020

    2020 Duke University, TriCEM, May 26

    Invited virtual talk: Evolution in the flesh: How cancer cells evolve to cheat the foundations of multicellular cooperation and what this means for cancer treatment and prevention

17. 2020

    2020 North Carolina State University, July 2

    Invited virtual talk: Fermenting for the Zombie Apocalypse

101National (pre-tenure)

1. 2017

   Alcock, J., Krajmalnik‐Brown, R., Maldonado, J., Aktipis, A., Han, C. S. (2017). The Microbial Organ is Unlike any Other – Evidence for Conflict in Human-Microbiome Co-Evolution. The 86th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, New Orleans.

2. 2019

   2019 Texas Christian University, September 6

   Invited talk: Cooperation across systems: From human sharing to cellular societies

3. Baylor University, September 4

   Invited talk: The future of cancer

4. 2019

   2019 The University of Texas at Austin, September 3

   Invited talk: Cooperation in the apocalypse: A survival guide

5. 2019

   2019 Arizona Wellbeing Commons Conference, Tempe, AZ, September 2

   Talk and Moderator: The future of cancer is here

6. 2019

   2019 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Boston, MA, May 29 – June 1

   Talk: “A solidarity-type world”: Mutual aid among ranchers in the American Southwest (Authors: Cronk, L., ✝Guevara Beltran, D., ✝Mercado, D., Aktipis, A.)

7. 2019

   2019 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Boston, MA, May 29 – June 1

   Talk: Are cravings, aversions and nausea/vomiting associated with pregnancy complications? Investigating the role of maternal-fetal conflict in maternal eating behavior and pregnancy complications (Authors: ✝Ayers, J., Boddy, A., Whisner, C., A.

8. 2019

   2019 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Boston, MA, May 29 – June 1

   Talk: Resource accessibility and intrasexual competition: Does a lack of direct access to resources drive covert strategies? (Authors: ✝Husdon, N., ✝Ayers, J., Aktipis, A.)

9. 2019

   2019 University of California Santa Barbara, May 17

   Invited talk: Cooperation in the Apocalypse: The Science of Human Generosity

10. Rightful Place of Science Conference, ASU, May 10

    Invited talk: Making the apocalypse fun again: A how-to guide for surviving the zombie apocalypse with science

11. 2019

    2019 Cornell University, Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, April 23

    Invited talk: Do need-based transfer systems offer a viable alternative to market-based systems

12. 2019

    2019 Harvard University, Human Evolutionary Biology Department, April 17

    Invited talk: Is cooperation through need-based transfers part of the human behavioral repertoire? Managing risk, making friends and monitoring cheating in an uncertain world

13. 2019

    2019 Harvard University, Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, April 16

    Invited talk: Reciprocity and generosity: Two sides of the same coin or entirely different currencies?

14. 2019

    2019 Georgia Institute of Technology, Integrated Cancer Research Center, April 11

    Invited talk: Cancer suppression and the evolution of multicellularity

15. 2019

    2019 Georgia Institute of Technology, Integrated Cancer Research Center, April 11

    Invited talk: Cancer suppression and the evolution of multicellularity

16. 2019

    2019 American Association for Cancer Research, Atlanta, April 1

    Invited talk: Cooperation, Multicellularity and Cancer: How cancer cells evolve to cheat and cooperate in the multicellular milieu

17. 2019

    2019 Interdisciplinary Cooperation Working Group, Rutgers University

    Invited talk: Cancer as a breakdown of multicellular cooperation: Principles of cooperation and cheating across systems

18. 2019

    2019 Beyond Center, Arizona State University, April 29

    Talk: Cooperation in the Apocalypse: The Science of Human Generosity

19. 2019

    2019 CIVV-oholics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, February 13

    Talk: How yeast and bacteria feed each other, create public goods, and protect the shared environment from invading pathogens

20. 2019

    2019 Society for Personality and Social Psychology Conference, Portland, OR, February 7-9

    Poster: Are There Rules in Friendship?: How Men and Women Make Their Perfect Friend (Authors: ✝Ayers, J., Krems, J., & Aktipis, A.)

    Poster: Feeling with the other may increase helping motivation, but only if the other is family or if we share a stake in each other’s fates: testing the interactive effects of kinship, interdependence, and affective empathy on willingness to help (Authors: ✝Guevara Beltran, D., & Aktipis, A.)

21. 2018

    2018. Zombie Apocalypse Medicine Meeting, Tempe, Arizona State University, October 18-21

    Talk: Can cooperation save our souls? Need-based transfers and kombucha in the zombie apocalypse

    Talk: Are Tasmanian devils zombies? Transmissible cancer as cellular cheating

22. 2018

    2018 International Society for Evolution, Medicine & Public Health Conference, Park City, Utah, August 1-4, 2018

    Talk: Host conditional movement influences the evolution of beneficial and harmful microbes

23. 2018

    2018 Society for Personality and Social Psychology Conference, Atlanta, GA, March 1-3

    Talk: The Human Generosity Project: Did need-based transfers and fitness interdependence shape human cooperation?

    Poster: What is Fitness Interdependence from an Evolutionary Perspective? An Interdisciplinary Approach to Measuring and Conceptualizing Fitness Interdependence (Authors: Aktipis, A., ✝Sznycer, D., Sullivan, D., Cronk, L.)

    Poster: Greater Risk-Taking Due to Safety Nets: Are Bilateral Risk-Pooling Relationships Immune? (Authors: ✝Munoz, A., ✝Claessens, S., Aktipis, A.)

    Poster: Empathy and Willingness to Help (Authors: ✝Guevara Beltran, D., Aktipis, A.)

    Poster: Do Friendship End If They Have Less Interdependence? (Authors: ✝Ayers, J., ✝Krems, J., Aktipis, A.)

    Poster: Rules of Friendship (Authors: ✝Ayers, J., ✝Krems, J., Aktipis, A.)

    Poster: How Do We Keep Our Friends?: Friendship Jealousy as Negative Emotion for Positive Ends (Authors: ✝Krems, J., Williams, K., Kenrick, D, Aktipis, A.)

24. 2018

    2018 Farm to Table Working Group, North Carolina State University, Feb 22

    Talk: The Kombucha Project

25. 2018

    2018 KombuchaKon, Long Beach, CA, February 10 -11

    Talk: Can kombucha save us from the zombie apocalypse? An overview of the Microbiome and Behavior Project at Arizona State University

    Poster: Symbiotic culture: disrupting bacteria-yeast interactions in kombucha to uncover the cooperative dynamics and the roles of each member of the kom-unity (Authors: ✝Narayanan, S., ✝May, A., Varsani, A., Maley, C., Aktipis, A.)

26. 2017

    2017 International Society for Evolution, Ecology and Cancer, Tempe, AZ, Dec 7-10

    Talk: How do multicellular bodies ‘decide’ if a cell poses a cancer threat? Cellular information processing is required to effectively solve Peto’s Paradox

    Poster: Transmissible Cancer and Eusociality: “Sharing” Selfishness with Others (Authors: ✝May, A., Maley, C., Aktipis, A.)

    Poster: This Beautiful Monster - an education garden installation at Arizona State University exhibiting the beauty of fasciation in cacti (Authors: Winfrey, P., Robertson, C., Maley, C., Aktipis, A.)

    Conference organizer: Brought theoretical evolutionary biologists and social scientists together with cancer researchers to address cancer from an evolutionary perspective.

27. 2017

    2017 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Boise, ID, May 31 – June 3

    Talk: Fitness interdependence and the study of cooperation: Toward a consensus (Authors: Aktipis, A., Alcock, J., Wilkinson, G., Scott Curry, O., Sullivan, D., Roberts, G., Balliet, D., ✝Sznycer, D., ✝Munoz, A., Winfrey, P., ✝Ayers, J., Wasielewski, H., ✝Boddy, A., ✝Krems, J., Cronk, L.)

    Talk: Foraging in an uncertain world: An agent-based modeling approach to model food sharing strategies in volatile environments (Authors: ✝Campenni, M., Cronk, L., & Aktipis, A.)

    Talk: Fitness interdependence shapes helping decisions (Authors: ✝Sznycer, D., Sullivan, D., ✝van den Akker, O., ✝Gervais, M., ✝Munoz, A., Cronk, L., & Aktipis, A.)

    Talk: Economic Games among the “Mean” Ik (Authors: Conte, T., ✝ Gervais, M., ✝Iyer, P., ✝McCarthy, D., ✝Sonkoi, D. ✝ Townsend, C., Townsend, C., Cronk, L., & Aktipis, A.)

    Talk: Friends, allies, and companions: How models of fitness interdependence shape social categories (Authors: Cronk, L., ✝Iyer, P., ✝Sonkoi, D., & Aktipis, A.)

    Talk: Friendship jealousy: A functional emotion for protecting valued cooperators? (Authors: ✝Krems, J., Williams, K., Kenrick, D., & Aktipis, A.)

    Talk: Sharing for Survival: Cultural strategies for mitigating risk (Authors: ✝Wasielewski, H., ✝Campenni, M., Cronk, L., & Aktipis, A.)

    Talk: Stingy, greedy or bad Lannister? Specialized cheater detection mechanisms in response to different selection pressures (Authors: ✝Munoz, A., ✝Sznycer, D., Cronk, L., & Aktipis, A.)

    Poster: Why do friendships end? Investigating features of same-sex friendship dissolution. (Authors ✝Ayers, J., ✝Krems, J., & Aktipis, A)

28. 2017

    2017 DoD Microbiome Symposium, Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, April 6-7

    Poster: The Microbiome and Behavior Project: Leveraging cooperation and conflict in the

    microbiome for human health and disease prevention (Authors: Aktipis, A., ✝Wasielewski, H., ✝May, A., Alcock, J., & Maley, C.).

29. 2017

    2017 SPSP Evolutionary Psychology Preconference, San Antonio, TX, January 19-21

    Poster: Do men and women have different strategies for ending friendships? (Authors: ✝Ayers, J. D., ✝Krems, J. A., ✝Munoz, A., ✝Sznycer, D., & Aktipis, A.)

    ]Poster: A new, better instrument to measure fitness interdependence. (Authors: Sznycer, D., Sullivan, D., ✝van den Akker, O., ✝Gervais, M., Cronk, L., & Aktipis, A)

    Talk: Avoiding Exploitation: Cognitive Mechanisms for Detecting Greediness, Stinginess, and Failure

    to Pay Debts (Authors: ✝Munoz, A., ✝Sznycer, D., Cronk, L., & Aktipis, .A.

30. 2016

    2016 International Society for Evolution, Medicine and Public Health, Durham NC, June 22-25

    Talk: What to do with cellular cheaters? The cheater detection problem in multicellularity and cancer susceptibility

    Paper: Host behavior and the oral microbiome (Authors: ✝Wasielewski, H., Maldonado, M. Alcock, J., Mandel, N., Krajmalnik-Brown, R. & Aktipis, A.)

31. 2016

    2016 TedX, Arizona State University

    Talk: Do you believe in Generosity?

32. 2016

    2016 Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, ASU, March 14, 2016

    Talk: Beyond Reciprocity: Transdisciplinary Approaches to Cooperation in Human and Cellular Societies2016

33. Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, IL

    Poster: Cheater Detection for Need-Based Transfers: Beyond Account-Keeping (Authors: ✝Munoz, A., ✝Sznycer, D., ✝Chang, A., Cronk, L., & Aktipis, A.)

34. 2016

    2016 Keystone Symposia Conference, Newport, Rhode Island

    Poster: Conflict and cooperation between host and gut microbiota: Implications for obesity and metabolic disease (Authors: Alcock, J., ✝Wasielewski, H., and Aktipis, A.)201583

35. Third Biannual Evolution and Cancer Conference, UCSF, Dec 10-13 Invited talk Multicellularity and cancer susceptibility: Costs, benefits and tradeoffs in scaling up cellular cooperation

    Poster: Multilevel selection, cooperation, and conflict in cancer (Authors: ✝Fortunato A., Maley C., and Aktipis A.)

    Conference organizer: Brought theoretical evolutionary biologists and social scientists together with cancer researchers to address cancer from an evolutionary perspective

36. 2015

    2015 Conference on Complex Systems, Tempe, AZ, September 30

    Invited talk: Cooperation and Cheating in Complex Multicellularity

    Talk: Enhancing resilience through resource transfers in social networks: Risk management through need-based transfers and account-keeping systems (Authors: ✝Campenni, M., Cronk, L., & Aktipis,

37. 2015

    2015 Personalized Medicine, Tucson, AZ, September 30 - October 2

    Poster: Molecular evolution of cancer: integrating an evolutionary perspective in cancer biology (Authors: ✝Fortunato A., Maley C., and Aktipis A.) 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology, Chicago IL, May 29

    Invited talk: Evolutionary approaches to cancer treatment

38. 2015

    2015 Mayo Clinic Individualizing Medicine Conference, Rochester MN, Sept 21

    Invited talk: Cooperation, conflict and the promise of comparative oncology

39. 2015

    2015 The Science of Sharing Forum, Exploratorium Science Museum, San Francisco, June 6

    Invited talk: Cooperation in multicellularity and other social systems

40. 2015

    2015 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Columbia, MO, May 27-30

    Invited talk: Need-based transfers in cooperative systems

    Talk: Are there tradeoffs between reproductive competitiveness and cancer susceptibility? Post doc award competition: ✝Amy Boddy)

    Talk: Need-based transfers in cooperative systems (Authors: Aktipis, A., ✝Boddy, A., Cronk, L.)

    Talk: Generous by nature: Risk, need, and the evolution of human cooperation (Authors: Cronk, L., ✝Gervais, M., Aktipis, A.)

    Poster: Need-based transfers and account-keeping in social networks: How do alternative cooperative strategies scale-up? (Authors: ✝Campenni, M., Cronk, L., & Aktipis, A.)

    Poster: Cheater detection in need-based transfer systems (Authors: ✝Chang, A., Cronk, L., Aktipis, A.)

    Poster: “Spiritual kinship”, need-based transfers, and the evolution of cooperation (Authors: ✝ Lenfesty, H., Aktipis, A., Cronk, L.)

41. 2015

    2015 Young Presidents Organization Global Digital Forum, San Francisco, May 6

    Invited talk: The origins and future of human sharing

42. 2015

    2015 University of Arizona, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Seminar Series, April 13

    Talk: Cancer as cheating in the foundations of multicellular cooperation

43. 2015

    2015 International Society for Evolution, Medicine and Public Health, ASU, March 21

    Talk: Cancer as somatic cheating: Resource acquisition and monopolization in multicellularity and cancer

44. 2015

    2015 University of California, Davis, Animal Behavior Seminar Series, March 13

    Talk: Need-based transfers across cooperative systems

45. 2014

    2014 Duke University, Evolutionary Anthropology Seminar Series, Nov 21

    Invited talk: From human sharing to multicellularity: The evolution of resource transfers and economic cheating

46. 2014

    2014 Harvard University, Human Evolutionary Biology Seminar Series, Nov 13

    Talk: Cooperation and sharing across systems: From human sharing to multicellularity

47. 2014

    2014 University of New Mexico, Department of Psychology Seminar Series, Nov 3

    Talk: Beyond tit-for-tat: Computational models of human sharing and the evolution of sociality

48. 2013

    2013 Second International Biannual Evolution and Cancer Conference, UCSF June 12-16, From Unicellularity to Multicellularity and Back Again Public talk: Is cancer a Darwinian demon?

    Talk: Evolutionary life history tradeoffs in cancer

    Conference organizer: Brought theoretical evolutionary biologists and social scientists together with cancer researchers to address cancer from an evolutionary perspective

49. 2013

    2013 Evolution and Comparative Oncology Mini-Symposium, University of Utah, May 7

    Invited Talk: Evolutionary foundations for cancer biology

50. 2013

    2013 University of Arizona Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Departmental Seminar, April 13

    Invited talk: Cancer as cheating in the foundations of multicellular cooperation

51. 2013

    2013 American Association for Cancer Research, DC, April 10

    Invited Talk: Evolution under resource limitation: Models of motility and metastasis

52. 2013

    2013 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Miami, Florida, July 17-20

    Invited Talk: The impact of social stress on women’s health & fertility: An evolutionary life history perspective

    Talk: Do metabolic tradeoffs explain why humans have exceptionally large brains? Testing the expensive tissue hypothesis using phylogenetic analysis (Authors: ✝Boddy, A., Aktipis, A., Sherwood, C., Grossman, L., Wildman, D.)

53. 2013

    2013 Synthesizing the Evolutionary and Social Science Approaches to Human Cooperation catalysis meeting, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, Durham NC, April 6

    Invited Talk: Generosity or reciprocity: Resource transfers and risk pooling

54. 2013

    2013 Chapman Keynote Research Lecture, Kansas University Medical Center, April 5

    Keynote address: Fundamental questions in cancer evolution: Knowns and unknowns

55. 2013

    2013 Kinetic Theory for the Emergence of Complex Behavior in Social and Economic Systems Workshop, University of Arizona, February 22-24

    Invited Talk: Cooperation through decentralized movement and sharing norms

56. Grand Rounds, Evolutionary Medicine Month, UCLA, February 6 Invited Grand Rounds Speaker: Evolutionary Foundations for Cancer Biology

57. 2012

    2012 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, University of New Mexico, June 13-17

    Talk: Generosity without reciprocity, part 1: Computational models of need-based transfers and risk pooling

    Talk: Generosity without reciprocity, part 2: Need-based transfers and reciprocity in a risk-pooling game (presented by Lee Cronk)

    Talk: The animal nature of spontaneous human laughter (presented by Greg Bryant)

    Talk: Can a reduction in ovulation cues be the result of inter-female aggression? Testing alternative hypotheses for the evolution of concealed ovulation in a simulated ancestral environment (presented by Melissa Fales)

58. 2012

    2012 American Anthropological Association, San Francisco, November 14-18

    Talk: Generosity without debt, part 1: Computational models of risk pooling through need-based transfers

    Talk: Generosity without debt, part 2: Need-based transfers in a risk-pooling game (presented by Lee Cronk)

59. 2012

    2012 National Academy of Science Chinese-American Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposium, Oct 11-14

    Poster: Solving the paradox of breast cancer susceptibility: Evolution and Estrogen Receptors

60. 2012

    2012 Evolutionary Medicine Symposium, Stanford University, May 8

    Invited Talk: The evolution and ecology of metastasis: Can we control cancer by targeting dispersal evolution?

61. 2012

    2012 Challenges of Complexity Speaker Series, Arizona State University, February 23

    Talk: Generosity without reciprocity: Computational models of risk-pooling and sharing norms in human societies

62. 2011

    2011 Evolution and Extravagant Altruism Speaker Series, University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, January 9

    Invited Talk: Beyond reciprocity and kin selection: Is it time to rethink the foundations of cooperation theory?

63. 2011

    2011 National Academy of Science, Sackler Colloquim: Biological Embedding of Early Social Adversity, Irvine, Dec 8-10

    Poster: Is early adversity a risk factor for hormone negative breast cancer? (with Bruce J. Ellis, Katherine Nishimura and Robert A. Hiatt)

64. 2011

    2011 UCSF Breast Oncology Program Seminar Series, November 28, 2011

    Talk: Evolutionary medicine for breast cancer: Can evolutionary life history theory explain differential risk factors associated with hormone receptor status?

65. 2011

    2011 UCLA Health Psychology Seminar Series, October 19

    Talk: Breast Cancer Susceptibility from an Evolutionary and Social Perspective

66. 2011

    2011 Economic Sciences Association, Chicago, October 7-10

    Talk: Emergence of risk sharing in a stochastic environment (talk presented by Steve Gazzillo)

67. 2011

    2011 Evolution and Medicine Workshop, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, August 5-7

    Talk: Evolutionary medicine for breast cancer: Revisiting the environmental mismatch hypothesis

68. 2011

    2011 First International Biannual Evolution and Cancer Conference, UCSF, June 3-5

    Talk: An evolutionary life history perspective on breast cancer

    Conference organizer: Brought theoretical evolutionary biologists and social scientists together with cancer researchers to address cancer from an evolutionary perspective

69. 2011

    2011 Evolutionary Genomics Seminar, Stanford University, June 1

    Talk: Evolution and cancer: harnessing evolution to reduce cancer mortality

70. 2011

    2011 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Seminar, UCLA, April 12

    Talk: Cooperation in a spatial world: Simple rules favor the evolution of sociality and conditional movement

71. 2011

    2011 Resilience Conference, Arizona State University, March 12-15

    Talk: Resource management and risk pooling: Exploring the viability of indigenous solutions for modern resource management problems

72. 2011

    2011 Breast Oncology Program Retreat, UCSF, Jan 27-28.

    Poster: Identifying opportunities for evolutionary thinking in breast cancer

73. 2010

    2010 Biocomplexity XI: The evolution of cooperation, Indiana University, Dec 3-5.

    Invited talk: The evolution of metastasis

74. 2010

    2010 Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, Philadelphia, PA, Nov 7-10

    Poster: Conceptual barriers in cancer prevention research

75. 2010

    2010 Evolution Conference, Portland State University, OR, June 25-29

    Talk: The evolution of metastasis

76. 2010

    2010 Cancer as a Dynamical System, Arizona State University, June 2-4

    Invited Talk: Playing games with cancer

77. 2010

    2010 Center for Social Dynamics and Complexity, Arizona State University, April 1.

    Invited talk: Social evolution and cancer

78. 2010

    2010 Water Governing and Risk Pooling Workshop, Arizona State University, March 29

    Workshop organizer: Planned workshop, and coordinated talks, discussions and activities

79. 2010

    2010 Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Evolutionary Preconference, Las Vegas, Jan 28

    Invited Talk: Walk the walk: Models of mobility and the evolution of cooperation

80. 2009

    2009 Microbes to Metazoans: Social Behavior and Evolution Symposium, Georgia Tech, Dec 2-4

    Poster: Conditional movement and the emergence of social structure in the evolution of Cooperation

81. 2009

    2009 H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Nov 11

    Invited Talk: The evolution of metastasis

82. 2009

    2009 Society for Philosophy and Psychology, University of Indiana, June 12-14

    Poster: Do we need complex cognition for the evolution of cooperation? Implications of conditional movement

83. 2009

    2009 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, UC Fullerton, May 28- 31

    Talk: Is group selection viable for highly mobile organisms? Rethinking the assumptions of standard group selection models

84. 2009

    2009 UCLA Center for Behavior Evolution and Culture, May 27

    Invited talk: Walking Away from the Haystack: Conditional movement favors the evolution of cooperation in groups

85. 2009

    2009 Group as Individual Conference, Arizona State University, April 30-May 2

    Talk: Walking Away from the Haystack: Conditional movement enhances the stability of cooperative groups and promotes the evolution of cooperation

86. 2009

    2009 Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University, April 20

    Invited talk: Social norms and simple rules: Agent-based models of cooperation

87. 2009

    2009 Center for Social Dynamics and Complexity, Arizona State University, April 16

    Invited talk: Walking Away from the Haystack: How conditional movement favors the evolution of cooperation

88. 2008

    2008 Principles of Repurposing, Santa Fe Institute, July 14-16

    Invited talk: Decentralized Redesign: Insights from principles in the evolution of cooperation

89. 2008

    2008 Reed Psychology Alumni Conference, Reed College, June 6-7

    Invited talk: Generative social science: Building sociality from the ground up with agent based models of decision-making

90. 2008

    2008 Swarmfest (agent-based modeling), Northwestern University, May 11-13

    Talk: A SIMPLE model for the evolution of movement and cooperation: Social dilemmas emerge from interactions with a shared environment

91. 2006

    2006 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, University of Pennsylvania, June 7-11,

    Talk: Reciprocity and contingent movement in the evolution of cooperation in groups

    Poster: Intertemporal choice and social cues

92. 2006

    2006 Institute for Research in Cognitive Science, Instructor, Undergraduate Summer Workshop, University of Pennsylvania

    Invited talk: Know when to Walk Away: contingent movement and the evolution of cooperation

93. 2005

    2005 Institute for Humane Studies Human Nature and Institutions Summer Graduate Student Workshop

    Talk: Simple 'Walk Away' rule promotes the evolution of cooperation in groups

94. 2005

    2005 Institute for Research in Cognitive Science Instructor, Undergraduate Summer Workshop, UPenn

    Invited talk: Just 'Walk Away:' Using agent-based models to investigate the evolution of cooperation

95. 2003

    2003 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, University of Nebraska, June 4-8

    Talk: Cooperative agents with contingent movement rules resist invasion by Tit-for-Tat and PAVLOV

96. 2003

    2003 Lake Arrowhead Conference on Computational Social Science, UCLA, March 19-23

    Talk: Cooperative agents with contingent movement rules outperform Tit-for-Tat and PAVLOV

    Talk: Biological and social symbiosis: An agent-based exploration

97. 2003

    2003 Portland State University, Systems Science Talk Series, February 7

    Invited talk: Cooperative agents with contingent movement rules outperform defectors

98. 2002

    2002 Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Rutgers University, June 19-23

    Talk: Behavioral and cognitive pathways to the evolution of cooperation

    Poster: Intertemporal choice in variable and stabile environments

99. 2000

    2000 Artificial Life VII Conference, Reed College, August 1-8

    Talk: The effect of behavioral assortment on selection dynamics: Externalities, information processing and subjective commitment

    Workshop organizer: Organized workshop on the role of A-Life in the group selection debate

100. 2000

     2000 International Systems Science Society Symposium, July 16-22

     Poster: An information processing approach to consciousness

101. 2000

     2000 Human Behavior and Evolution Society Conference, Amherst College, June 7-11

     Poster: A social interface theory of consciousness