Nick Passalacqua, associate professor of anthropology, discusses how anthropologists recover and analyze skeletal remains to build biological profiles including age, sex, stature, and ancestry. He contrasts real methods with those of TV dramas (such as Bones), noting the field relies on careful measurement and collaboration rather than flashy technology. Ethics remain central, guiding respectful treatment of the dead and their families. Ultimately, forensic anthropology serves a humanitarian mission: returning individuals to their communities. The program at Ohio State is expanding rapidly and training the next generation of professionals.