Why Do We Migrate?

(www.anthropology.net)

Migration is a ubiquitous feature of our modern human lives. Ease of transportation has decreased barriers to movement while economic, social and cultural factors remain important push-pull factors in decisions to migrate. As a consequence, long standing patterns of internal migration and established streams of international migration have been joined by the emergence of transnational migration in which individuals and families move from country to country.

At the same time, an evolutionary perspective suggests that an activity as widespread as migration is likely to be imbedded in our human nature. In fact, the very origin of modern humans is associated with migration out of Africa. Thus the biology of humans may be expected to reflect our history as a colonizing species. Yet, it is unclear exactly when humans and/or human ancestors first began to migrate, what factors influenced their decisions to migrate and whether such migratory capacity left a sufficiently deep signature that it plays a role in modern migration patterns.

This international conference seeks to address the question of Why Humans Migrate-- from multilevel and interdisciplinary perspectives that link social and biological factors. What are the social, economic, and cultural factors involved in current migration patterns? Do they reveal a pattern typical of a species or are there notable differences in the patterns and determinants of migration across human populations? What are the demographic and evolutionary sequelae of migration? Furthermore, can we identify variation in our genome, in our bodies, and/or our brains that make us want to migrate in the first place? If so, are any of these biological factors directly connected to the social, economic and cultural processes underlying modern day migration?

You are cordially invited to attend this conference on Why Humans Migrate on March 1st and 2nd, 2010, at the Interdisciplinary Commons of the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Ks. Posters and oral presentations on why humans migrate and the consequences of these migrations are being solicited worldwide from faculty and graduate students. Inquiries concerning the conference, volunteered presentations, possible titles and abstracts should be addressed to the organizers: Professor Michael H. Crawford (crawford@ku.edu) or to Dr. Benjamin Campbell (campbelb@uwm.edu).