Public Anthropology Initiative
Department of Cultural Anthropology, Duke University
The field of Cultural Anthropology, with its detailed examination of the complexities of social life, has much to offer policy makers, activists, and the general public as they embark on difficult decisions with high stakes. Furthermore, the experiences of these decision-makers and advocates, in all their passion and practical knowledge, have much to offer anthropological theory and method. In an effort to foster greater exchange between cultural anthropology and those addressing important social problems, the Department of Cultural Anthropology instituted the Public Anthropology Initiative in 2005. This initiative aims to expand opportunities for department faculty, graduate and undergraduate students in three areas:
(1) training in public communication skills and community-based research;
(2) collaborations, volunteer-work and research designs to address social problems;
and
(3) forums for critically reflecting upon lessons learned from public engagement for both the field of cultural anthropology and for those working for social change.
Recent News and Projects:
- Collaborative Seminar at Butner Federal Corrections Complex – “Culture Questions: What is Culture? And Why Does it Matter?” Cultural Anthropology faculty and graduate students are volunteering an enrichment seminar for inmates interested in the topic of “culture” and a seminar-style experience that is different from the regular format of credit-courses available through local college systems. The seminar offers participating inmates an opportunity to learn about different approaches to studying culture and to workshop their own ideas about why culture matters. Participating department members get the opportunity to learn from people thinking about and experiencing “cultural matters” with very different stakes than their own.
- In 2006-07, the Graduate School is supporting a departmental workshop series entitled “Integrating Public Anthropology into the Cultural Anthropology Curriculum.” Designed and run by Cultural Anthropology graduate students, the workshops provide faculty and graduate students with models and approaches for integrating public anthropology activities and skills development into regular teaching practices.
Questions about the Public Anthropology Initiative should be directed to Dawn Peebles at dawn.peebles@duke.edu or Ronni Armstead at ronni.armstead@duke.edu.
The department’s Public Anthropology Committee is: Anne Allison, Orin Starn, Naomi Quinn, Dawn Peebles, Micah Gilmer, Ronni Armstead and Jason Cross.
Collaborations and Interdisciplinarity
Public Anthropology and the Curriculum
Critical Reflection & Academic Freedom
Partners in Public Scholarship & Activism