Robin Dunbar wins 2026 International Cosmos Prize

Emeritus Fellow Professor Robin Dunbar has been awarded the 2026 International Cosmos Prize, one of the world’s leading international awards recognising contributions to the understanding of the relationship between nature and humankind.

Professor Dunbar was recognised for his pioneering interdisciplinary research spanning anthropology, evolutionary psychology, and primatology. His work established the ‘Social Brain Hypothesis’ and introduced the influential concept of ‘Dunbar’s number’, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of the evolution of human sociality. He is also the author of a number of books, including FRIENDS: Understanding the Power of our Most Important Relationships, THE EVOLUTION OF RELIGION, and THE SOCIAL BRAIN (co-authored with Samantha Rockey and Tracey Camilleri).

Professor Dunbar will receive the award at a ceremony in Osaka on 26 October 2026. For more, see the Expo ’90 website.