Human Cooperation Lab

We are interested in the evolution of cooperative behavior in humans and how insights from theory can be used to advance environmental solutions in our community. Questions we are focusing on this year include:

1. How can evolutionary stable strategies for cooperative behavior inform local and regional solutions to environmental dilemmas?

2. How can others learn and adapt solutions to collective action problems from other regions of the world?

We train and coach a mixed methods approach including social networks analysis, behavioral economics, and traditional ethnographic methods. We have published papers and book chapters with previous cohorts in the lab.

Dr. Ziker has a long-running research program in northern Eurasia that focuses on human-ecological relationships and sustainability. Current research includes work in Central Mozambique as part of the Endow Project and social networks of STEM faculty in higher education.

If you’re interested in joining our group as an undergraduate student or a graduate student pursuing a Master’s in Anthropology or a PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at Boise State University, then please check the Prospective Students tab and feel free to contact me.