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Anthropology: Beyond the Books
March 10, 2007
Thank-you to all of our
panellists, keynote speakers and guests for making Anthropology:
Beyond the Books a great success!
The University of Lethbridge
Anthropology Club and Department of Anthropology are hosting our
first ever career conference just for anthropology
and social science students! Be sure to mark your
calendar so you don't forget to check out all of the great
information that will be presented on working in the fields of
anthropology.
Anthropology: Beyond the
Books Career Conference
Saturday March 10
10am - 6pm in Andy's Place
(AH100)
This event will include workshops and keynote
speakers directed primarily towards anthropology
students. This conference, which focuses on hands on experience
and active participation, will showcase 2 keynotes speakers that
are sure to enlighten participants with personal and
contemporary accounts of their experiences which their
anthropology degrees have led them to during their careers.
In addition, we are holding four
workshops in which U of L Alumni, community members, and active
participants in Canadian culture will come together to provide
insightful accounts of how students will be able to apply their
social science, more specially anthropology degrees when carving
their own career paths.
Schedule
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10:00 – 10:15 |
Official Welcome: Dr. Steve Ferzacca |
|
10:15 – 11:15 |
Workshop #1 -
Preparing for Graduate School |
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11:30 – 12:30
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Workshop #2 - Applied Anthropology:
Using your degree to make a difference
|
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12:45 – 2:15 |
Keynote
Speaker & Lunch - Dr. Christopher Fletcher, University of Alberta
"Anthropology Matters" |
|
2:30 – 3:30 |
Workshop #3 - Practicing
Anthropology: Using your degree outside of academia |
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3:45 – 4:45 |
Workshop #4 - Opportunities for
Undergraduate Students |
|
5:00 – 6:15 |
Keynote
Speaker - Dr. Margot Wilson, University of Victoria
"Leaving Non-Intervention
Behind: Applied Anthropology in the Real World" |
Detailed Event Information
Workshop #1: Preparing for Graduate
School
Purpose: to provide students with
information and suggestions for pursuing a graduate degree in
anthropology or related fields. Our speakers will cover
topics such as: planning, where to go, funding, writing
proposals and feasibility. They will also offer their
personal experiences with graduate school and will be able to
answer questions you may have.
Panellists:
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Dr. Jaime MacKenzie -
Professor at the University of Lethbridge
Has completed both a Masters
(University of Alberta) and a
PhD in Anthropology (State University of New York,
Albany).
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Dr. Steve Ferzacca -
Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology
Has completed both a Masters and a PhD in
Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin.
*Dr. MacKenzie and Dr. Ferzacca
have quite different experiences with graduate school and
will, therefore, offer two different approaches to the
pursuit of graduate degrees.
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Tracy McNab - Currently
doing a Masters in Anthropology the University of Lethbridge
Workshop #2: Applied Anthropology:
Using your degree to make a difference
Purpose: to provide students with
information on applying the methods and theories of anthropology
to the analysis and solution of practical problems. Our
speakers will provide personal accounts of their experiences
with applied anthropology and will offer insight into a career
in a non-academic setting.
Panellists:
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Valerie Lock - A University
of Lethbridge anthropology alumnus that is currently a
self-employed research consultant for the Litigation
Management and Resolution branch of Indian and Northern
Affairs Canada.
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Shanda Vanier - A graduate
of the University of Lethbridge, currently working as an
Aboriginal liaison officer at the Lethbridge Community
College
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Allison Dobek -
A Masters graduate of the University of Lethbridge that has
worked as a research consultant in both the public and
private arenas. She is currently consulting for the
Aboriginal Affairs department of Husky Energy.
Workshop #3: Practicing Anthropology:
Using your degree outside of academia
Purpose: to provide students with
insight into the opportunities available for practicing
anthropology and using skills obtained through an education in
anthropology in a non-academic setting.
Panellists:
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Tracy McNab - Currently
pursuing a Masters in Anthropology at the University of
Lethbridge. She has done extensive work in urban and
regional planning for the City of Lethbridge and also
managed the Provincial Treasurer's office in Lethbridge.
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Marie Moyer - An
anthropology alumnus of the University of Lethbridge,
currently coordinating an adult education program that
combines ESL, literacy, math and job skills training for the
Low German Mennonite community in Taber. She also sits
on the board of Ten Thousand Villages in Lethbridge.
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Please note that Hugh Spencer is
unable to attend the conference due to unforeseen
circumstances and that we are working to find a replacement
panellist.
Workshop #4: Opportunities for
Undergraduate Students
Purpose: to increase students'
awareness of the opportunities available to undergraduate
students. Anthropology students from the University of
Lethbridge will cover topics such as: co-operative education
program, internships, field schools, applied studies and
independent studies.
Panellists:
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Sam Bennet - has just
returned from a four-month co-op in India.
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Daniela Henna - is currently
working on her undergraduate thesis. She has also gone
on the Ecuador field school, done both an independent study
and applied study and has just returned from a semester-long
exchange in Mexico.
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Starsha Battrick -
participated in the Anthropology Department's field school
in Ecuador during the Summer of 2006.
Keynote Speakers:
"Anthropology
Matters: Reflections and projections on an anthropology
of substance"
12:45pm, AH100
Abstract
This talk is intended to work through three different yet
interconnected meanings of the word 'matter' as they
relate to an applied anthropology. Matter here refers to 1)
things to consider 2)materials convertible to energy and 3)
making a difference. To bring these connections forward, I will
present case studies of applied research from Northern Canada
focusing on environmental and health issues. As for projections,
I will showcase some recent student work that points to new ways
that anthropology may find influence beyond
the walls of the University.
Dr. Christopher Fletcher is a Professor at the University of Alberta and an Adjunct
Associate Professor at the Canadian Circumpolar Institute.
He has a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Geography from the
University of Waterloo and a PhD from the University of
Montreal. He describes himself as a cultural
anthropologist who is interested in drawing theoretical and
practical links between environmental and medical domains.
More information about Dr. Fletcher can be found
here.
Return to
Schedule
"Leaving
Non-Intervention Behind: Anthropology in the Real World"
Dr. Margot Wilson, University of
Victoria
5:00pm, AH100
Abstract
This talk begins from the position that
Applied Anthropology breaks a primary tenet of traditional
Anthropology--non-intervention. Accordingly, historical
expectations in Anthropology of an objective, impartial and
dispassionate perspective on other cultures provides a starting
point for the discussion. Many Anthropologists have
discovered that it is simply impossible to live withand study
groups of people without becoming involved in the challenges
thatoften face them in a globalized world: caring is not enough,
circumstances
warrant action. The stories used to explicate this argument are
drawn from my own experiences as an Applied Anthropologist in
the field of International Development and from the experiences
of some of my Anthropological friends and colleagues.
Dr. Margot Wilson is a Professor and Chair of the Anthropology Department at
the University of Victoria. Her research interests
include: development anthropology, medical anthropology, gender
studies and international adoption. She works primarily in
India and Bangladesh.
Return to Schedule |
