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April 10 – 11, 2026: Keynote speaker at Washington Area Meeting of Economic Scientists (WAMES), George Mason University

May 11 – 13, 2026: Chairing a session at the Cultural Evolution Society Conference, Rabat, Morocco

July 9 – 11, 2026: Keynote speaker at the International Meeting on Experimental and Behavioural Social Sciences (IMEBESS), Prague

July 25 – August 14, 2026: Keynote speaker at Zanzalu, Zanzibar

September 25 – 26, 2026: Keynote speaker at the WZB Annual Address on Migration and Diversity, Berlin

September 28 – 30, 20226: Keynote speaker at the International Behavioural Public Policy Conference, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

 

Invited Speaker at BX2025

I had the opportunity to speak at the 2025 Behavioral Exchange Conference hosted by the Behavioral Insights Team (BIT) and the Behavioral Science Group at NYU Abu Dhabi. This year, the conference focused on New Frontiers in Behavioral Science, bringing to life the latest developments in the field and hearing from the people behind them.

In my talk, I explored how AI can allow us to solve the current problem of the lack of generalizability and specificity in behavioral science. I also participated in a panel on the power of social connections and community with Michael Bailey from Meta and Wardah Malik from BEworks.

My deepest thanks to the Behavioural Insights Team and the the Behavioral Science Group for hosting the event and inviting me!

Invited talk at Brunel University

Earlier this month, I was invited to give a talk at Brunel University’s Centre for Culture and Evolution in London. In my talk, I discussed the cultural evolution of intelligence, including insights from my book A Theory of Everyone and from my previous work in these papers:

My thanks to the Centre for Culture and Evolution for inviting me and organizing the event!

Invited talk at Google

I was recently invited to give a talk at Google. During this talk I discussed cultural evolution and AI, as well as my work measuring and mapping scales of cultural and psychological distance.

More information about these topics can be found below:

  • White, C. J. M., Muthukrishna, M. (equal senior) & Norenzayan, A. (2021). Worldwide evidence of cultural similarity among co-religionists within and across countries using the World Values Survey. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118 (37) e2109650118. [Download] [Supplementary] [Publisher] [Twitter]
  • Muthukrishna, M., Henrich, J. & Slingerland, E. (2021). Psychology as a Historical Science. Annual Review ofPsychology, 72, 717-49. [Download] [Publisher] [Summary Post] [Twitter]
  • Muthukrishna, M., Bell, A. V., Henrich, J., Curtin, C., Gedranovich, A., McInerney, J. & Thue, B. (2020). Beyond Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) Psychology: Measuring and Mapping Scales of Cultural and Psychological Distance. Psychological Science, 31(6), 678-701. [Download] [Supplementary] [Code] [Summary Post] [Publisher] [Twitter]
  • Uchiyama, R., Spicer, R. & Muthukrishna, M. (2021). Cultural Evolution of Genetic Heritability. [Target article]. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 1-147. [Download] [Summary Post] [Publisher] [Twitter]

My deepest thanks to Google for having me!

Invited speaker at the 2024 Wallace Wurth Lecture

Last month I was invited to speak at the 2024 Wallace Wurth Lecture at the University of New South Whales in Sydney, Australia. In conversation with UNSW Scientia Professor Rob Brooks, I discussed my book, A Theory of Everyone, and how cultural evolution and social learning shape everything from our daily decisions to the fate of entire civilizations.

Thank you to UNSW for having me!

Invited guest at Human Flourishing Forum at Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Vatican

I had the honor of being invited to speak at the Human Flourishing Forum at Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

My talk explored the intersection of AI, cultural understanding, and human flourishing, emphasizing how technology should enhance human innovation rather than drive it. I discussed the challenges in measuring flourishing across diverse cultures and the importance of moving beyond Western-centric models of success.

My sincere thanks to Tim Lomas for chairing the panel, and speakers Mila Aliana, Brandon Vaidyanathan, Victor Counted, Monica Aleman, and Tomas Björkman for their insightful perspectives.

My talk can be found here, and the full discussion can be found here.

Invited talk at Center for Humans and Machines, Max Planck Institute of Human Development, Berlin, Germany

I recently gave an invited talk at the Center for Humans and Machines at the Max Planck Institute of Human Development in Berlin, Germany.

My presentation focused on the limitations of relying on WEIRD samples in research on human cognition and behavior, and the need to move beyond these populations. I shared new data from my research in Namibia and Angola, drawing on the framework from my book, A Theory of Everyone, to emphasize the importance of strategic sampling based on theory and cultural distance.

In the talk, I also discussed best practices for cross-cultural research, including the use of online tools like Besample, cross-cultural collaborations, and considerations for field research.

My deepest thanks to the Max Planck Institute of Human Development for inviting me and organising the event.

Some of my relevant papers on the topic can be found here:

  • Muthukrishna, M. (2023). [BOOK] A Theory of Everyone: Who we are, how we got here, and where we’re going. MIT Press (US & Canada) / Basic Books (UK and Commonwealth) [Amazon and Local Bookstores]
  • Muthukrishna, M., Bell, A. V., Henrich, J., Curtin, C., Gedranovich, A., McInerney, J. & Thue, B. (2020). Beyond Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) Psychology: Measuring and Mapping Scales of Cultural and Psychological Distance. Psychological Science, 31(6), 678-701. [Download] [Supplementary] [Code] [Summary Post] [Publisher] [Twitter]
  • Slingerland, E., Atkinson, Q. D., Ember, C. R., Sheehan, O., Muthukrishna, M., Bulbulia, J. & Gray, R. D. (2020). Coding Culture: Challenges and Recommendations for Comparative Cultural Databases. Evolutionary Human Sciences, 2, E29. [Download] [Publisher]

Keynote at Association for Contextual Behavioral Science World Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina

I was honored to deliver a keynote at the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) World Conference 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In my presentation, based on the concepts from my book, A Theory of Everyone, I discussed the ongoing scientific revolution transforming the psychological and behavioral sciences. I also discussed how the dual inheritance theory provides a comprehensive framework for understanding human behavior and its applications in real-world interventions and policy.

My deepest thanks to the ACBS for inviting me and organising the event, and to Lori E. Crosby, Mavis Tsai and her team for their insightful talks and workshop.

Inaugural Cohesive Capitalism Summit at the London School of Economics

I attended the Inaugural Cohesive Capitalism Summit at the London School of Economics. This summit was the public launch of the new LSE Programme on Cohesive Capitalism, a major multi-disciplinary initiative to investigate new politico-economic paradigms, institutions and policies that could serve the common interest.

My thanks to the London School of Economics for hosting the event!

Invited speaker for Charter Cities Week Zanzalu, Zanzibar

I was invited to talk at the Charter Cities Week in Fumba Town, Zanzibar.

I explored the themes from my book, A Theory of Everyone, focusing on how startup cities like Fumba Town can catalyze economic and social development. I discussed the critical interplay of culture, psychology, and economics in shaping urban projects, emphasizing the role of cultural and psychological insights as foundational elements in designing and building new urban environments.

The full talk can be found here, and you can check out my book here.

My sincere thanks to the Charter Cities Institute for inviting me and hosting the event.

Invited speaker at Global Solutions Summit, The World Policy Forum to the G20 and G7.

This month, I was invited to deliver a keynote at the Global Solutions Summit by the World Policy Forum to the G20 and G7, on “Paradigm Shift: Reorienting Economics and Economic Policy ⁠Solution Dialogues”.

My talk focused on rethinking economic frameworks for the G20 nations, highlighting the need for a new paradigm that addresses global challenges like inequality and political instability.

My sincere thanks to David Sloan Wilson for moderating the panel, and to fellow speakers Karla Hoff, Guru Madhavan, and Tania Singer for their insightful contributions.

Invited speaker at workshop on “An Aspirational Approach to Planetary Futures”

In April, I was invited to speak at a workshop on “An Aspirational Approach to Planetary Futures” by the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report Office at the University of Oxford.

I presented work from my book A Theory of Everyone, and from the papers below:

  • Muthukrishna, M. (2019). Cultural Evolutionary Public Policy. Nature Human Behaviour, 4, 12-13. [Download] [Publisher]
  • Schimmelpfennig, R. & Muthukrishna, M.  (2023). Cultural Evolutionary Behavioural Science in Public Policy. Behavioural Public Policy. [Awarded EUSPR Presidential Award 2023] [Publisher] [Download] [Twitter] [LinkedIn]
  • Henrich, J. & Muthukrishna, M. (2021). The Origins and Psychology of Human Cooperation. Annual Review of Psychology, 72, 207-40. [Download] [Publisher] [Twitter]
  • Muthukrishna, M., Francois, P., Pourahmadi, S., & Henrich, J. (2017). Corrupting Cooperation and How Anti-Corruption Strategies May Backfire. Nature Human Behaviour, 1(0138). [Download] [Summary Post] [Publisher]

My deepest thanks to the University of Oxford for having me!

 

Keynote speaker at Rebuilding Macroeconomics conference on Polycrises and Policy Frameworks

I was invited to deliver a keynote address at the Rebuilding Macroeconomics conference on Polycrises and Policy Frameworks. In my talk, I explored how human evolution, shaped by both genetic and cultural factors, has contributed to our ability to address complex challenges. I focused on my research on cultural transmission, and how it enables humans to innovate, cooperate, and respond to crises.

I also tackle these concepts in my book, A Theory of Everyone, which you can check out here.

The talk also included an insightful discussion between myself, speakers Clara Mattei and Alan Kirman. Those interested can view the full discussion here.

My deepest thanks to the Insitute for Global Prosperity for inviting me and for organizing the event.

Keynote speaker and panelist at SPSP Computational Psychology Preconference in San Diego

I had the pleasure of delivering the keynote at the SPSP Computational Psychology Preconference in San Diego.

My talk on Data-Driven Discovery, focused on how to conduct research using existing datasets. I discussed strategies for finding and analyzing datasets effectively, emphasizing the potential of computational methods to uncover new insights in psychology through large-scale data analysis.

I also participated as a panelist at the conference. In the roundtable, we addressed equitable collaborations and the inclusion of researchers from the Global South in social psychology. The session included discussions on barriers, opportunities, and methodologies relevant to fostering global research.

My thanks to Arathy Puthillam for chairing the event, to the SPSP organizers for the opportunity, and to everyone who attended for their engaging questions and discussions.

Invited speaker at Creativity: Innovation, Transmission and Motivation in Animals, Humans and Societies Meeting, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome, Vatican

I was delighted to be an invited speaker at the meeting on “Creativity: innovation, transmission, and motivation in animals, humans, and societies,” which took place at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. The meeting is part of an effort to strengthen the relationship between the Vatican and science.

I presented my research on “Cultural Evolution and Creativity in the Collective Brain”, including new work, my book, A Theory of Everyone, and previous work in these papers:

This event brought together an interdisciplinary array of scholars, priests, and researchers, and I am looking forward to continuing this important dialogue.

Panelist and Invited Speaker on Bridging Disciplines to Advance Governance Research at the Governance Initiative, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, London

I recently participated as a panelist and invited speaker at the Governance Initiative organized by the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab in London, UK, at their conference on “Bridging Disciplines to Advance Governance Research: Collaborations on Gender, Social Networks, and Climate Change.”

I was a panelist on the “Perspectives on The Challenges and Importance of Multidisciplinary Collaboration in Governance Research,” alongside Nava Ashraf and Noam Yuchtman. This engagement provided a forum to discuss innovative strategies for governance and poverty alleviation, leveraging insights from cultural evolution and economic psychology to inform policy and action.

I tackle more of this in my book, “A Theory of Everyone,” and other relevant papers on the topic can be found here:

  • Schimmelpfennig, R. & Muthukrishna, M.  (2023). Cultural Evolutionary Behavioural Science in Public Policy. Behavioural Public Policy. [Awarded EUSPR Presidential Award 2023] [Publisher] [Download] [Twitter] [LinkedIn]
  • Muthukrishna, M., Bell, A. V., Henrich, J., Curtin, C., Gedranovich, A., McInerney, J. & Thue, B. (2020). Beyond Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) Psychology: Measuring and Mapping Scales of Cultural and Psychological Distance. Psychological Science, 31(6), 678-701. [Download] [Supplementary] [Code] [Summary Post] [Publisher] [Twitter]

My thanks to the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab for organizing the event, and my co-panelists, Nava Ashraf and Noam Yuchtman for an engaging session.