Call for participants in a panel on public anthropology for a world in crisis

From the Anthropology in Action network: Call for participants in a panel on public anthropology for a world in Crisis. Sarah Pink (Loughborough University), Simone Abram (Leeds Metropolitan University) and Halvard Vike (University of Oslo) have proposed a panel on Public Anthropology for a World in Crisis for the EASA 2010 Conference in Maynooth, August 24 – 27, 2010. Use this link to go to the online submission system for abstracts or to email questions.

Short Abstract: This panel explores how a contemporary public anthropology might be imagined, is emerging, and is capable of making interventions outside academic contexts. We are interested in theoretically and methodologically informed case studies, position papers, critical and historical considerations.

Long Abstract: The idea that anthropologists can and should play a role as public intellectuals and activists has long-since been (and been debated as) part of the history of the discipline. Recently attention has been applied to this area of anthropological practice in a growing literature on the topic (as is also happening in a parallel way for Sociology). In this panel we explore how a contemporary public anthropology might be imagined, is already emerging, and is capable of making interventions outside academic contexts. We are interested in theoretically and methodologically informed case studies, position papers, critical and historical considerations. Contributions to this panel should examine questions of: how a public anthropology (or anthropologies) can operate in contemporary political, policy, cultural, social, (new) media and mobile contexts; and the implications of this.