Shanti Morell-Hart is an anthropological archaeologist and paleoethnobotanist with a focus on ancient societies in Mesoamerica. Her published research tracks the origins and impacts of agriculture in the development of societies, contributions of plants to ritualized activity and healthcare, the range and diversity of quotidian botanical practices, and transformations in human-environment relationships, especially as related to narratives of collapse and resilience. She currently serves as Director of the Integrated Laboratory for Archaeological Sciences (ILAS) and the Paleoethnobotany Laboratory at Brown (PEBLAB).