Boise State undergrads recognized for anthropological research

Shane Scaggs (left), Delaney Glass and John Ziker were recognized by the American Anthropological Association.
Shane Scaggs (left), Delaney Glass and John Ziker were recognized by the American Anthropological Association. | Contributed photo
Boise State anthropology majors Shane Scaggs and Delaney Glass recently received a special award from the the American Anthropological Association in recognition of a paper they presented at the association’s latest conference.

Scaggs and Glass are both Boise State undergrads, which means just having the opportunity to present original research at a national academic conference was recognition of their hard work and talent as scholars. The fact that the association saw fit to create a special award just for them is a testament to just how good that research was.

The pair spent nine months working together and alongside Boise State Anthropology Department Chair John Ziker on a research project called “Four Pathways To Generosity: Evolutionary Mechanisms Differentially Affect Charitable Donations.” Scaggs and Glass used methodologies and theories established by the field of behavioral economics to look into what factors make people more or less willing to donate to charity.

“It was an impressively polished presentation based on nice work,” Peter Richerson, president of the American Anthropological Association’s Evolutionary Anthropology Society, said. “There was some enthusiasm for encouraging other faculty members to bring undergrads to the meeting to give presentations.”

Ziker said the award stands as great recognition not only for Scaggs and Glass, but for the entirety of Boise State’s anthropology department.

“This award is confirmation that Boise State is at the cutting edge of undergraduate research on a national level,” Ziker said.