Panel Explores How Anthropologists Engage with the Public

Joshua Zaffos

A panel of Colorado State University Anthropology and Geography faculty, students and alumni discussed how and why anthropologists should be public figures and engaging with popular audiences during a virtual program on April 2.

The hour-long panel, “Anth to the People! Public Anthropology in the 21st Century,” covered topics that highlighted how practitioners, researchers, land managers and students share and communicate anthropology and archaeology with audiences and stakeholders. Public anthropology refers to anthropology as practice for outreach, education, communications and social change; a sphere that isn’t always comfortable for researchers and professors.

Panel participants included Professor Kate Browne; Professor Jason LaBelle; Hallie Pelton, U.S. Forest Service (ANTH MA ’17, BA ’13); Ray Sumner, Anthropology Ph.D. candidate; Cody Cooke, English major; Amanda Kowalski, Anthropology and Geography major; and Zoe Schutte, Anthropology and Geography major. Professor and Chair Mica Glantz served as moderator.