Anthro in the news 12/15/14

  • Ed Liebow, Executive Director of the American Anthropological Association.

    Cultural anthropology is essential for addressing Ebola

Discover Magazine reported on a conference on anthropology and Ebola held at the George Washington University in November that convened nearly twenty anthropologists to brainstorm about how to better address Ebola through the inclusion of cultural knowledge. The article mentions several anthropologists, academics and professionals working in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, including Sharon Abramowitz of the University of Florida, one of the effort’s organizers.  The article quotes Edward Liebow, executive director of the American Anthropological Association, one of the co-sponsors of the conference: “Epidemiologists are making oversimplified assumptions about transmission, setting these wild upper limit bounds…We’re in a position to actually breathe life into the numbers, to put people into those positions, to make much more realistic assessments of near-term and longer-term predictions.” Continue reading “Anthro in the news 12/15/14” →

DC event: WAPA’s December 2014 Networking/Happy Hour

When: Monday, 15 December 2014, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Where: Le Mirch, 1736 Connecticut Ave NW

Join the Washington Association of Practicing Anthropologists at Le Mirch, where they “combine the bold, exciting flavors of India with the sophisticated, elegant presentation to provide you with a one-of-a-kind contemporary dining experience to bring classic dishes from the streets of Bombay and the cafes of France to your home in DuPont.”  Happy hour prices  normally end at 7:00, but they will be extended to 7:30 for our group.

Directions:  By Metro, exit the DuPont Circle station (Red Line) through the North/Q St exit and walk north along Connecticut Ave.  Le Mirch is on the left just before S St.

Hope to see you there,
Washington Association of Professional Anthropologists

Anthro in the news 11/24/14


  • Building a green wall to hold back the Sahara

The New York Times carried an article called “Senegal Helps Plant a Great Green Wall to Fend Off the Desert.” It mentions the changes in the environment from a time still remembered by elders when there were so many trees that you couldn’t see the sky to now, when the landscape is miles of reddish-brown sand dotted with occasional bushes and trees. Overgrazing and climate change are the major causes of the Sahara’s advance, said Gilles Boetsch, an anthropologist who directs a team of French scientists working with Senegalese researchers in the region. The article quotes him as saying: “The local Peul people are herders, often nomadic. But the pressure of the herds on the land has become too great…The vegetation can’t regenerate itself.” Continue reading “Anthro in the news 11/24/14” →

Upcoming film: Food Chains: The Revolution in America’s Fields

In this exposé, an intrepid group of Florida farmworkers battle to defeat the $4 trillion global supermarket industry through their ingenious Fair Food program, which partners with growers and retailers to improve working conditions for farm laborers in the United States.

There is more interest in food these days than ever, yet there is very little interest in the hands that pick it. Farmworkers, the foundation of our fresh food industry, are routinely abused and robbed of wages. In extreme cases they can be beaten, sexually harassed or even enslaved – all within the borders of the United States. Continue reading “Upcoming film: Food Chains: The Revolution in America’s Fields” →

DC event: Improving Global Health Through Clean Cooking Solutions: A Panel Discussion of Diverse Perspectives

When: Monday, November 24th, 2014, 12:30pm*
Where: 950 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Room B100B

Exposure to smoke from cooking with solid fuels kills more than 4 million people, predominately in the developing world, each year according to the World Health Organization. This event will feature a panel of experts discussing clean cooking solutions and their ability to lead to improvements in health, environment and the livelihoods of women and children. It will conclude with a demonstration of the newest biomass stoves developed by Aprovecho Research Center. Continue reading “DC event: Improving Global Health Through Clean Cooking Solutions: A Panel Discussion of Diverse Perspectives” →