Cristine H. Legare is a Professor of Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts. She directs the Center for Applied Cognitive Science and the Evolution, Variation, and Ontogeny of Learning Laboratory. Her work bridges cognitive science, cultural anthropology, and developmental psychology to explore how universal cognitive systems interact with cultural variability to shape learning and cultural evolution. Education: Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Michigan (Culture and Cognition Program). Undergraduate studies at UC San Diego, double-majoring in Human Development and Cultural Studies. Research Interests: Cognitive development, cultural learning, global public health, STEM education, and the evolution of ritual behavior. Her projects span diverse populations, including studies in South Africa, Brazil, China, Vanuatu, and India. Grants & Funding: Supported by the National Science Foundation, John Templeton Foundation, and others. Her work addresses pressing issues in education and public health through interdisciplinary approaches. Recipient of the 2015 APS Janet Taylor Spence Award 2016 APA Boyd McCandless Award Labs & Initiatives: Founded the Center for Applied Cognitive Science to foster global collaborations between researchers and practitioners. Key projects include the RISE Project (healthcare rituals in India) and Thinkery Connect (museum-university partnerships). Teaching focuses on cognitive science of religion and coevolution of cognition/culture. Over 100 publications in top journals like Psychological Science and PNAS, with media coverage in NPR, Scientific American, and The Wall Street Journal.









