Established following the International Garden and Greenery Exposition held in Osaka in 1990, the International Cosmos Prize honours individuals whose work has made an outstanding contribution to understanding the interdependence of life, the global environment and the harmonious coexistence of nature and humanity.
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.
The award citation also recognises Professor Dunbar’s contributions to the study of language, laughter, religion, and social behaviour, demonstrating how these have played a central role in the development of human societies. His research has provided new insights into humanity’s place within the natural world and the relationship between nature and humankind.
Professor Dunbar will receive the award at a ceremony in Osaka on 26 October 2026. Read more on the Expo ’90 website.