Project Members
The Human Generosity Project is a cross-disciplinary project co-directed by Lee Cronk and Athena Aktipis, with project members spanning the disciplines.
By working closely together, our team of anthropologists, psychologists and computer scientists capitalize on important synergies. Together we build models, design experiments and develop plans for fieldwork to better understand the conditions that facilitate human generosity.
STEPHEN MERIKI
Role:
Anthropologist, Masai field site supervisor
Institution:
Rutgers University
Stephen Meriki is a PhD student at Rutgers University, advised by Dr. Lee Cronk in the Human Evolutionary Sciences (HES) program in the Anthropology Department. He holds a BA in Cultural Studies (Anthropology) from Moi University, Kenya. Stephen’s academic pursuits are deeply entrenched in human behavioral ecology, mutual aid, cooperation, human and cultural evolution, and civic engagement, with a particular focus on how ecological and evolutionary pressures shape human behaviors and promote social justice. His research primarily investigates the evolution of land tenure systems among pastoralist societies, with a special focus on the Maasai of Kenya. He examines the cultural and economic impacts of transitioning from communal to individualized land ownership, a shift that mirrors broader governmental policies and growing land scarcity. This transition has significant implications for Maasai culture, livelihoods, and community identity.