Anthropology is a science in transition. It is a particularly multifaceted discipline because it embraces a wide spectrum of most different topics, which in their broadest sense all deal with human biology. Particularly in the recent decades, major domains in anthropology such as human genetics, human ethology, aspects of auxology, forensic anthropology, palaeoanthropology, aspects of human evolution, and others have become independent scientific disciplines. The trend towards diversification has not yet come to an end, and it underscores the importance of communicative platforms for the dialogue between disciplines.

The 9th International congress of the German Anthropological Society, at Gottorf Castle, September 12 to 16, 2011, offered such a communicative platform, reflecting the diversity of Anthropology. The congress provided an international platform for scientists to meet, and to discuss recent progress in understanding the various aspects of human evolution, palaeoanthropology, human ethology, human genetics, auxology and forensic anthropology.

This special issue includes eight original papers and 85 abstracts of the congress which closely reflect the susceptibility of humans to environmental diversity and underlines its impact on growth and development, all of these being vivid facets of modern anthropology.