Introduction: diversifying cultural evolution research and application to global futures

Abstract Understanding how cultures evolve is critical in a world where anthropogenic cultural activities are driving rapid and profound social and environmental change, with far-reaching consequences for global futures. Yet, the study of cultural evolution is fragmented across disciplines and remains predominantly shaped by western perspectives. This Theme Issue stems from the Cultural Evolution Society Transformation Fund (CES-TF), a grant scheme designed to bridge the social and natural sciences, promote equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in research, and support work with policy relevance. In this introductory article, we highlight the grant scheme’s core commitments to equity, diversity and inclusion, and show how these gave rise to a collection of projects with emergent themes that converge on many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Collectively, the articles featured in this issue employ a variety of approaches and methods, draw on expertise from across the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities, include under-represented researchers and research settings beyond Northern America and Western Europe, and bring the field closer to policy. This diversification of the cultural evolution field is an ongoing process that ultimately strengthens its capacity to positively shape global futures. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Transforming cultural evolution research and its application to global futures’.