Warren Wilson

Associate Professor, Department of Archaeology,
University of Calgary

Adjunct Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences,
University of Calgary

Office:  Earth Sciences 852
Phone: (403) 220-2665
Fax: (403) 282-9567

Email: 
wwilson@ucalgary.ca

Research Interests

I am a biological anthropologist with an interest in the relationship between human health, nutrition, and culture.  While the bulk of my work has focused upon the well-being and dietary practices of Amerindians in the rainforests of South America, I recently expanded my research to consider the dietary practices and health outcomes of immigrants and refugees in Canada.

My current work in South America concerns the impact of rapid culture change on the health of the Makushi Indians who live in the rainforests and savannas of central Guyana.  In this, I am exploring the compatibility of biological conservation with human development in the tropics.

Additionally, I am now collaborating with colleagues across Canada to investigate knowledge and behaviour among immigrants and refugees in Canada regarding Vitamin D.  In this study, we hope to better understand the relationship between culture, dietary practices, and health as it pertains to Vitamin D among these new Canadians.

For more information about my research click on the links below:

• Project Summary - Biological Conservation and Human Development in Guyana: Compatible Goals?

• OnCampus Weekly (Jan '04)

• Project Summary- From knowledge to practice: vitamin D and new Canadian mothers and children

Wilson, W.; Milner, J.; Bulkan, J.; and Ehlers, P. Weaning Practices of the Makushi of Guyana and their Relationship to Infant and Child Mortality: A Preliminary Assessment of International Recommendations.  American Journal of Human Biology 18(3): 312 - 324, 2006. abstract

Wilson, W.  Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), cyanogenic potential, and predation in Northwestern Amazonia: the Tukanoan perspective.  Human Ecology 31(3): 403 - 416, 2003. abstract

Wilson, W.  Game. In: Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. Editor in Chief: Solomon H. Katz, Charles Scribner's Sons, Vol. 2, pp. 93-96, 2003. abstract

Wilson, W.  Soils Used for Gardens by Tukanoans in Northwestern Amazonia and their Impact on Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Cultivar selection. Culture and Agriculture 24(2): 20 - 30, 2002. abstract

Castro, F.; Silva-Forsberg, M.C.; Wilson, W. ; Brondizio, E. & Moran, E.  The use of remotely-sensed data rapid rural assessment.  Field Methods 14(3)243 - 269, 2002. abstract

Wilson, W. and Dufour, D.L.  Why bitter cassava? Productivity of bitter and sweet cassava in a Tukanoan Indian settlement in the Northwest Amazon.  Journal of Economic Botany 56(1): 49-57, 2002. abstract

Wilson, W.; O'Brien, G.M.; and Dufour, D.L.  Application of a picrate semi-quantitative screening assay for the cyanogenic potential of cassava roots at a remote field site. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 80: 590-594, 2000. abstract 

Wilson, W.; Dufour, D.L.; Staten, L.K.; Barac-Nieto, M.; Reina, J.C.; Spurr, G.B.  Gastrointestinal parasitic infection, nutritional status and physical work capacity in Colombian boys.  American Journal of Human Biology 11(6): 763-771, 1999.  abstract

Curriculum Vitae

Click here to see my complete CV.

Seasonal variation in diet among the Makushi Indians of Guyana - Shawna Ardley
(9/01 - 8/05)

Dietary practices in Villaconte Valley of Peru- Karoline Guelke (9/01 - 2/04) (Co-supervised with Pascale Sicotte, Anthropology Dept., Univ. Calgary)

Links

Research Related Links
Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development
International Centre for Tropical Agriculture
Cassava Biotechnology Network
Indigenous Peoples in Brazil

Biological Anthropology Organizations
Canadian Association for Physical Anthropology
The Human Biology Association
American Association of Physical Anthropology
American Anthropology Association