Department of Anthropology at Western

MA candidate Christine Boston examining ancient skeletal remains at the Museo Arqueologico San Miguel de Azapa, Chile. Find out more about Archaeology @ Western.[Note: The Department of Anthropology affirms and abides by the Vermillion Accord on Human Remains. For more information, click HERE.]

Quick Links

News and Announcements

Help Improve the Department Library

Library and Information Science students Kate Shore (kshore4@uwo.ca) and William Klie (wklie@uwo.ca) are looking for feedback about the Anthropology department library. Do you use the space? Why or Why not? How? What would you like to see changed? Any and all feedback is welcome. For those interested in an informal focus-group roundtable discussion, please contact Kate or Will at the above addresses.

Research Assistant Opportunity for Current and Prospective Students

Dr. Karen Pennesi will be hiring a graduate research assistant to conduct interviews in the UWO community during summer and fall 2012 as part of her newest project: "Negotiating Personal Names and Social Identities at the University of Western Ontario". Students interested in working on this project or on conducting their own M.A. or Ph.D. research on this topic under Dr. Pennesi's supervision should contact her or click [HERE] for more information.

Congratulations Matt

Matthew Beaudoin was the 2012 recipient of the Society for Historical Archaeology's Student Paper Prize at this year's annual conference, held January 4-8, in Baltimore. This year's competition had a record number of applicants. According to the SHA, "the prize is awarded to a student, or students, whose written version of a conference paper is judged superior in the areas of originality, research merit, clarity of presentation, professionalism, and of potential relevance to a considerable segment of the archaeological community." As part of his prize, Matthew received over $1400 worth of books/titles, as well as a letter of recommendation from the SHA President.

Digital Explorers Recognized

Andrew Nelson, of the Department of Anthropology, and Lu Xiao of the Faculty of Information and Media Studies are two of the winners in the second-annual Digging into Data Challenge. They will use these awards to help them compile and analyse complex and wide ranging information related to mummies and to human rights abuses. More information is available HERE.

Madagascar Field Course Information Session

Thurs. Jan 19th. 4.30-5.30 - SSC 2257

Professor Ian Colquhoun will host an information session on this year's Madagascar Field Course in Environmental Anthropology. More information about this field course and the information session can be found HERE.

Information on 3rd Year Courses

Anthropology 3302G – Anthropology’s Intellectual and Institutional Histories

Anthropology’s multiple histories are an anthropological problem requiring attention to institutions and social networks as well as theories. These are also influenced by larger trends in the humanities, social sciences and public culture. We will look at Canadian anthropology alongside British, French, German and Americanist traditions and examine historicist approaches in each of anthropology’s four fields. More information is available HERE.

Special Topics Courses in Winter Term

Why is Popular Culture 'Popular'?

Prof. Kinga Pozniak will be offering a new special topics course in Winter Term (Jan- April 2012): Anthro 2228G:002 - The Anthropology of Popular Culture. We have always created music, art, festivals and performances to make sense of our world. Popular culture reflects social dynamics and also can generate resistance and change. In this course we will think critically about the anthropology of everyday life, examining such expressions of popular culture as reality tv, internet and social networking, sports, music, art and fashion. More information is available HERE.

Exploring the Practice of Peace

Prof. Douglass St.Christian [dr.d.] will be offering a new special topics course -- Anthro: 2228G:001 Peace:: Ethnographic Understandings of Culture, Co-operation and Non-violence in Winter Term [Jan-April 2012]. This course explores the practice of peace, co-operation, and non-violence. We will examine the ways societies across time and space have used non-violent strategies of collaboration and conflict resolution to organize everyday life and their relationships with other societies. We will also explore ideas from other cultures and traditions as a way of learning and practising peace in each of our lives. You can find more information HERE.

Thinking of Applying to Our Graduate Program?

Prospective students can find answers to their questions about our program HERE. Tips on putting together a good graduate school application are available HERE. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us HERE.