ANTH 2202-30 Online
Physical Anthropology
Fall 2007
Course information available to registered students only on our D2L site.

ANTH 2201-01
Cultural Anthropology

Fall 2007

Links
Coon Rapids Campus

*Web-Enhanced* - see our D2L site for more info.

Coon Rapids Campus

*Web-Enhanced* - see our D2L site for more info.

image by James Q. Jacobs, used by permission

Dr. Deborah J. Shepherd
Office: B254, Phone: 763-433-1195
Email: deborah.shepherd@anokaramsey.edu
Office Hours: email me for information
ANTHROPOLOGY LINKS

Fieldschool and Volunteer Opportunities

HUMAN EVOLUTION. This entry, and several others from his weblog, showcases John Hawks' latest article about research on accelerating human evolution. Prof. Hawks (UW-Madison) shows that due to the enormous population size of Homo sapiens, we are experiencing faster rates of evolution than most comparable species, not slower. Finding ways to demonstrate this acceleration is big news indeed. (December 12, 2007)

IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN. Recently, a serious controversy has arisen among professional anthropologists. The U.S. government has begun hiring trained anthropologists to participate in "an experimental Pentagon 'human terrain' program to embed anthropologists in combat units in Iraq and Afghanistan." Their role is ostensibly to help "the occupying forces" know more about local cultures. While this activity could be helpful to all concerned in a number of ways, it presents many opportunities for abuse of the information. In other words, cultural information can be used against "the enemy." (And remember that this use of cultural information can be made effective against American forces as well.) For most anthropologists, however, the worst part of this development is this: When anthropological research is used to manipulate any people who have been studied, the professional and ethical credibility of the entire profession suffers great harm. What culture group would ever be willing to cooperate with any anthropological research team in the future if they know that we anthropologists are available for hire by military units? An interesting opinion-editorial piece by Professor Richard A. Shweder of the University of Chicago and published in the New York Times can be accessed permanently here. Addendum: The American Anthropological Association has now issued a report of their findings concerning the Human Terrain Project. There is also a blog for further discussion of the topic.

                                                                                                                                           Additional Recent News in Archive

D2L Student Manual (.pdf file, must have Adobe Acrobat)

D2L User Information (technical) (.pdf file)

PUBLIC LECTURES in the Twin Cities:

Archaeological Institute of America – Minnesota Society Lecture Series 2007-2008

• Biography and Publications
• DISCLAIMER

Archaeology Study, Field Opportunities, and Career Information for Undergraduates

Antioch University (Yellow Springs, OH) runs a field school program called Brazilian Ecosystems. Attendance during next fall semester would give you 16 transferable college credits in ecology. However, you need to have completed two years of college by fall 2008. The web site for more information is: http://aea.antioch.edu/brazil/

Coon Rapids Campus
11200 Mississippi Blvd NW
Coon Rapids MN 55433-3470
General Information: 763.433.1100

Copyright © 2007