Journal article submissions sought on impact of anthropology

Anthropology in Action Special Issue on Impact of Anthropology

In a range of countries, the public ‘value’ of and support for a range of academic disciplines has been questioned and debated. Following the  recent Research Excellence Framework Exercise in the UK, which introduced formal assessment of ‘research impact’, it is timely to reflect on the engagement of anthropology with public policy and practice and how it makes an impact on these spheres. We invite submissions of articles and comment or debate pieces or other contributions reflecting on the issue of ‘impact’ including questions such as: how do we define and measure impact? How do anthropologists engage with public policy and discourse in order to make an impact? How do anthropologists and anthropology departments represent themselves as having impact? Contributions are welcome from any country. Continue reading “Journal article submissions sought on impact of anthropology” →

Event: Why the World Needs Anthropologists

Why the World Needs Anthropologists

This international symposium attempts to erase the boundary between “pure” and “applied” anthropology, and presents opportunities for establishing long-lasting cooperation between academics and practitioners.

Contemporary demands give us no time to get stuck by internal tensions and divisions within the discipline – anthropologists need to come out of their “ivory towers” and come to terms with the increasingly prominent economic, political and ecological challenges of our world. Continue reading “Event: Why the World Needs Anthropologists” →

Anthro in the news 10/27/14

  • Viewpoint: Rethinking Ebola death risk

Slate Magazine commented on an article in the London Review of Books by renowned medical anthropologist and physician, Paul Farmer. He argues that:

“An Ebola diagnosis need not be a death sentence. Here’s my assertion as an infectious disease specialist: If patients are promptly diagnosed and receive aggressive supportive care—including fluid resuscitation, electrolyte replacement and blood products—the great majority, as many as 90 percent, should survive.” In other words, the survival rate for the disease in the U.S. and other high income countries with good health systems should be close to that. Continue reading “Anthro in the news 10/27/14” →

DC event: Building Inclusive Climate-Smart Resilience from the Ground Up

Myanmar Advanced Leadership Institute on Climate Change for
Government Officials and Civil Society Leaders

Building Inclusive Climate-Smart Resilience from the Ground Up
featuring Mr. Roger-Mark De Souza, Director of Population, Environmental Security and Resilience, Wilson Center

A bustling market in Yangon, Myanmar. Photo credit: Sandi Moynihan

When: Thursday, November 13, 2014, 5:30pm- 7:30pm

Where: The Elliott School of International Affairs, Lindner Family Commons Room 602
1957 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052

Light refreshments will be provided.

Seating is limited! RSVP now at: http://go.gwu.edu/adaptation

This event is part of the Myanmar Advanced Leadership Institute on Climate Change (MALICC), which brings a delegation of 14 government officials and civil society leaders to Washington. MALICC builds on a two-year partnership between PISA and ALARM, Myanmar’s leading environmental organization, in order to help mainstream climate change into the nation’s policy-making.

Anthro in the news 10/20/14

  • Anthro advice: Don’t panic over Ebola

An article in the Springfield News/Sun (Ohio) on the Ebola epidemic advised against panic in the U.S.  It quoted Simanti Dasgupta, an anthropology professor at the University of Dayton in Ohio. According to Dasgupta, this disease can further the “othering” of Africa as a “wholly dark” place rather than a continent that encompasses deserts, jungles as well as ports and big cities. Continue reading “Anthro in the news 10/20/14” →

Call for student papers: Human Development Conference at Notre Dame University

 

The 7th Annual Human Development Conference
February 27-28, 2015
University of Notre Dame
The Ford Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity and the Center for Social Concerns at Notre Dame and SIT Study Abroad announce the 7th annual conference on human development. Continue reading “Call for student papers: Human Development Conference at Notre Dame University” →

Anthro in the news 10/13/14

  • Ebola crisis is worse than statistics say
Aida Benton speaking at Brown University.

The Providence Journal (Rhode Island) reported on a teach-in on Ebola at Brown University.  Speakers included an anthropologist, an epidemiologist, a biostatistician, a community organizer and a representative from the Rhode Island Department of Health. Adia Benton, an assistant professor of anthropology at Brown who specializes in the medical anthropology of sub-Saharan Africa, said the crisis is worse than statistics indicate. According to Benton, health institutions in West Africa have been gutted by war and corruption. Medical services, where they exist, are devoted to diseases such as HIV-AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, and basic supplies are lacking. The solution is to build a health system in those countries, and that takes time. Continue reading “Anthro in the news 10/13/14” →

Anthro in the news 10/6/14


  • Global Politics, Global Health and the Anthropological Moment

Paul Stoller, professor of cultural anthropology at Westchester University, published in article in The Huffington Post about how anthropologists are uniquely positioned to understand the complex multiethnic nuances of 21st century social and political life. He discusses two examples: ISIS and the Ebola epidemic. Continue reading “Anthro in the news 10/6/14” →

Anthro in the news 9/29/14

  • Relevance of cultural anthropology to business

The Huffington Post carried an article describing how concepts in cultural anthropology apply to business models as presented in a new book, Handbook of Anthropology in Business, edited by Rita Denny and Patricia Sunderland. Denny and Sunderland are anthropologists who run a consumer research and strategic consultancy, Practica Group. Their clients include SC Johnson, Whirlpool, Nissan, Pernod Ricard, Target, PepsiCo, Samsung, and Darden Restaurants. This Handbook demonstrates the links between the commercial arena and ethnographic research and cultural analysis. The book presents findings from 60 international scholars. Sections include: Dynamics of Tension, Forces of Change: With “Big Data” coming into the forefront, what is the anthropologist’s role in sorting through, applying reason, making sense, and ultimately turning it to a productive business use?; Boundaries Breached and Blurred: Where does anthropology come into play when we are dealing in a global marketplace? Can interactions with other countries be enhanced with better cultural understandings?; Plying the Trade: Who are the anthropologists that have managed to successfully insert themselves into the business paradigm? How do they co-exist with the number crunchers and old-line sales mentalities?; and The Energy of Memes: How do ideas, products, or behaviors circulate through a culture? Is there a way to enhance the process? Continue reading “Anthro in the news 9/29/14” →