Chair：Dr. ZHOU XinYing

Deputy Chair: Dr. GE Junyi 

The Department focuses on geological transitions and major environmental events and their processes across different spatial and temporal scales. Its research aims to explore the relationship between vertebrate and hominin evolution and environmental change, and to investigate the driving mechanisms behind these interactions. The Department also addresses scientific questions related to the origins of agriculture and civilization, as well as early human adaptation and environmental impact.

Research Directions:

1. Major environmental events and their relationship with vertebrate evolution;

2. Cenozoic vegetation succession and climatic-environmental change;

3. Origins and development of agriculture, and human impact and adaptation.

Current Research Priorities:

1. Late Cenozoic vegetation succession and climatic-environmental change in central China;

2. Environmental change and human impact in the middle reaches of the Yellow River;

3. Climatic-environmental events, agricultural origins, and human adaptation since the Last Deglaciation.