AAAG-sponsored topical workshops and symposia


To provide an opportunity for individuals to keep abreast of the latest developments in our rapidly changing field, AAAG holds seminars and workshops from time to time on selected topics of interest to the membership of the association. We will post information on upcoming workshops as it becomes available.

Previous workshops


2007:  The 2007 Anthropological and Primate Genetics Workshop included an introduction to theory and techniques addressing the quantitative genetics of complex traits.  It took place from August 16-18, and was co-hosted by AAAG and by the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research in San Antonio, Texas.

2005:  The American Association of Anthropological Genetics and the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research held a short workshop entitled "Anthropological and Primate Genetics" December 8-10, 2005, on the SFBR campus in San Antonio, TX. The workshop focused on the study of normal variation and genetic epidemiology in both human and nonhuman primates. Presenters introduced concepts, methods, and results of genetic analysis with the aim of helping participants design their own genetic studies. The workshop was intended for graduate students and faculty interested in integrating various genetic methods into their research programs, but was also open to advanced undergraduates and others with a serious interest in these types of analyses. The workshop ended with a special question and answer session with a panel of researchers who could answer participants' specific questions regarding data collection, opportunities for training and collaboration, career directions, etc.

Workshop attendees included 25 students and researchers from all over the U.S. Graduate students Elizabeth Ann Carson (University of New Mexico) and Lisa Nevell (The George Washington University) were awarded travel grants from the AAAG travel awards to attend the workshop. 

2005 workshop participants

2005 AAAG workshop participants (click on photo for larger image)

The workshop was a huge success largely due to the efforts of many speakers from the SFBR Department of Genetics, University of California Berkeley, and the Lifespan Health Research Center, Wright State University, who presented information and interacted with the participants. The workshop was sponsored by Applied Biosystems, Illumina, M&A Technology, Purina Mills LabDiet, Sigma Solutions Inc., and Fisher Scientific.

2004:  A workshop entitled "Anthropological and Primate Genetics" was held November 18-20, 2004, at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research in San Antonio, Texas.  Click here to download the pdf version of the program of this workshop.  A group photo of the participants can be seen here (very large file; please be patient).

1990s:  In 1995, a two-day workshop on genetic epidemiology and molecular genetic approaches to anthropology was organized at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research in San Antonio.  The 1996 workshop on molecular genetics took place at the Analytical Genetic Testing Center in Denver.  A workshop on HLA variation and disease was held in 1997 in Mexico City.  The 1999 workshop, "Anthropology, Genetic Diversity and Ethics," was held at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.