2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Collaboration across STEM and Liberal Arts: Decoding Human Evolution & Culture through Innovative Science & Technology [1]
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- James Frances Loftus
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - unknown
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.C661
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Aug 1, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course is a 1-credit course.
Only students who meet the conditions ① and ② can enroll.
① Be enrolled before 2022.
② You must have already earned one credit in a liberal arts advanced subject.
Students enrolled in 2023 or later cannot take this course.
［Collaboration across STEM and Liberal Arts］are study group-type subjects that started in 2024. Each time, students will engage in discussions with guest lecturers who are active leaders in their various fields. Together with participating doctoral graduate students, we will explore new developments and possibilities in convergence science.
The maximum number of students is 50 per class. If the number is exceeded, a lottery will be held.
Lottery date: Enrollment status as of Monday, November 17, 12:00 noon will be used to conduct the lottery.
Notification of lottery results: Results will be announced via LMS (or similar) by Friday, November 21.
After this date: If enrollment exceeds capacity due to additional registrations, places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and registration will close once the class is full.
Group work will be conducted in English. Moderators and instructors will give lectures in English, to be translated by ZOOM's translation function.
Students will take an e-learning session on research ethics in the first class. Submission of the “session-completion certificate” is required.
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How can cutting-edge technology help us uncover the complexities of human evolution and culture?
This course explores the intersection of archaeology, biological anthropology, and advanced scientific methods to investigate the past in new and innovative ways. Though rooted in the humanities, both archaeology and biological anthropology are highly scientific disciplines that rely on rigorous methodologies, data analysis, and hypothesis testing to reconstruct past human lives. Students will examine how emerging technologies, such as 3D scanning, photogrammetry for artifact reconstruction, and AI-driven analyses of ancient DNA and migration patterns, are transforming our understanding of human history.
More importantly, students will explore how their own research can contribute to reshaping the study of the past.
Course description and aims
1. Understand the fundamentals of archaeology and biological anthropology, and learn how these fields integrate with scientific technologies.
2. Learn research methods related to past human societies using digital technologies and computational science.
3. Adopt interdisciplinary approaches and develop ways to expand research perspectives.
4. Learn practical applications of cutting-edge technologies in archaeology and biological anthropology research.
Student learning outcomes
実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)
The instructor has participated in numerous archaeological excavations and has extensive experience in digitizing important material cultural heritage to preserve the past for future generations.
This course integrates real-world case studies from the instructor’s fieldwork, providing students with tangible examples that directly connect course content to practical archaeological scenarios.
Keywords
Archaeology & Biological Anthropology
Human Evolution & Culture
Computational & Digital Approaches
Technology & Innovation
Ancient Societies
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This course consists of 7 live classes conducted via Zoom, held on Mondays.
The class starts at 13:30 (5th-6th period) and ends around 17:05 (7th-8th period).
The duration of each class is 200 minutes.
Participation in the first class is mandatory.
＊Due to the nature of the class contents, photos or discussions which some students may find upsetting will be utilized (human skeletons, human evolution, death, photos of diseases, etc.).
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | [Dec. 8th] Instructor: James Frances Loftus (Institute of Science Tokyo) Lecture Title: Introduction, E-Learning Overview: Introduction to this course | Conduct the following: • Introduction, E-Learning |
| Class 2 | [Dec. 15th] Guest Speaker: Fritz E Hardtke (Macquarie University; Researcher) Lecture Title: Etched in Time: Rock Art and the Science of Ancient Lives Overview: This lecture explores how ancient Egyptian rock art serves as a powerful nexus for archaeology, art history, and advanced scientific techniques, such as 3D capture, chemical dating and digital analysis, to reconstruct past lifeways, mobility, and identity. It highlights how interdisciplinary methods are reshaping our understanding of Predynastic Egyptian societies. | Taking into account the contents of the lecture, write your thoughts about the lecture and any questions you have on the provided comment paper and submit it via LMS during the class. |
| Class 3 | [Dec. 22nd] Guest Speaker: Noriko Seguchi (Kyushu University, Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies; Specially Appointed Researcher) Lecture Title: Cutting-Edge STEM Tools in Biological Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Overview: This lecture explores six cutting-edge STEM methodologies transforming biological anthropology: from ancient DNA and population genomics to 3D geometric morphometrics, finite-element biomechanical modeling, stable isotope dietary and mobility reconstructions, dental calculus metagenomics, and machine-learning skeletal classification, demonstrating integrative, quantitative approaches to human evolutionary and bioarchaeological research. | Taking into account the contents of the lecture, write your thoughts about the lecture and any questions you have on the provided comment paper and submit it via LMS during the class. |
| Class 4 | [Jan. 5th] Guest Speaker: Corey Noxon (Ritsumeikan University (R-GIRO); Assistant Professor) Lecture Title: Multi-scale Applications of Photogrammetry in Archaeology Overview: The lecture will cover the project planning and execution of photogrammetry scans in archaeology contexts at multiple scales. Examples will include sites as large as the Oyu Stone Circle site in Akita prefecture down to scanning pottery sherds 2-3cm across. | Taking into account the contents of the lecture, write your thoughts about the lecture and any questions you have on the provided comment paper and submit it via LMS during the class. |
| Class 5 | [Jan. 19th] Guest Speaker: Bai Yang (Liaoning University, School of Archaeology and Museum Studies; Lecturer) Lecture Title: A Comprehensive Study of Pottery Production in the Early States of China Overview: This lecture will explore the use of integrated methods, such as clay elemental, quantitative, and morphology analysis, to investigate pottery production organization and system, and their connection to the origins and development of early Chinese states. | Taking into account the contents of the lecture, write your thoughts about the lecture and any questions you have on the provided comment paper and submit it via LMS during the class. |
| Class 6 | [Jan. 26th] Guest Speaker: Shinya Shoda (Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties; Head of the International Cooperation Section) Lecture Title: Biomolecular Archaeology Explores Past Food and Cooking Practices Overview: Biomolecular archaeology has brought revolutionary advances in food and cooking research in this century. Based on the research conducted by the lecturer and colleagues, this lecture will review how the cooking behavior of the Japanese archipelago from Palaeolithic to early historic time has been reconstructed and what impact this has had on the study of archaeology and history. | Taking into account the contents of the lecture, write your thoughts about the lecture and any questions you have on the provided comment paper and submit it via LMS during the class. |
| Class 7 | [Feb. 2nd] Lecture Title: Review, Presentations Instructor: James Frances Loftus (Institute of Science Tokyo) Overview: Review of this course, Student Presentations | Conduct the following: • Final project presentations • Course review and discussion |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Please refer to the references provided in the course schedule
Necessary references will be provided before or during class
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Please refer to the references provided in the course schedule
Necessary references will be provided before or during class
Evaluation methods and criteria
Class engagement (in-class comment paper): 50%
Final project: 50%
Related courses
- LAH.S447 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences56:Archaeology & Biological Anthropology
- LAH.T116 ： Archaeology & Biological Anthropology A
- LAH.T215 ： Archaeology & Biological Anthropology B
- LAH.T319 ： Archaeology & Biological Anthropology C
Prerequisites
While there are no specific instructions, note that English is the primary language used in this course, please make sure you feel confident conducting group work in English.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
loftus.f.3f80[at]m.isct.ac.jp
Office hours
Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment