Anthropology is devoted to the study of human beings in all of their social and cultural complexity. Anthropologists seek to describe the inner workings of human social groups and to understand how and why societies change over time.
Located on the eastern edge of the continent, the Department of Anthropology at Memorial has strong intellectual roots in both Europe and North America. While the department has historically placed a strong regional focus on the North Atlantic Rim, particularly: Eastern Canada; the United States; Iceland; The Shetland Islands; Norway; England, Ireland, and Spain, our faculty members also have expertise in other areas, including Central and South America, the South Pacific, and Eastern Europe.
Memorial's anthropologists seek to foster an approach that is at once critical and engaged. While the research interests of the faculty are diverse, we share a strong interest in problems of power and social inequality, which we view as being critical to understanding the contemporary world. Faculty research projects have addressed a wide range of important topics, including: the Northern Ireland Peace Process, the political transformation that has taken place in Spain after the fall of the Franco's fascist regime, the politics of authenticity in Newfoundland's fishing and tourism industries, historical memory of the Viet Nam war, issues of development in Latin America, and social and political struggles over access to ocean spaces and resources.
The Department offers programs at the BA, MA and PhD levels.
NOTICE OF RELOCATION:
Due to ongoing renovations of the exterior of Queen's College, the Department of Anthropology General Office, faculty members, and classes have relocated to the fourth floor or Spencer Hall.
News
Dr. Lindsay DuBois
The Department of Anthropology will be hosting a talk by Dr. Lindsay DuBois (Associate Professor, Sociology and Social Anthropology, Dalhousie University) entitled “Narrating Political Lives: The case of activist Argentine pensioners”. The talk will be held in Spencer Hall, Room 4008 on Friday, March 8 at 10:00 a.m. All are welcomed to attend.
Consuelo Griggio presented a paper titled: "Each Summer, our animals go on vacation on the outer islands!" The importance of grazing, haymaking, and local heritage on the Vega Archipelago, Norway. ESLAND Conference, 11-13 October 2012 University of Sassari, Sassari Italy.
Elizabeth Whitten has been awarded the Michael Staveley Award for being on the Dean's List form 2007-2011 as an undergraduate student.
Samantha Breslin has been awarded the Scotia bank Bursary for International Study (Graduate) for the 2012/2013 scholarship year in the amount of $2000.
David Cooney & Erin Heys have been awarded the School of Graduate Studies F.A. Aldrich Fellowship for 2012/2013.
David Cooney has been awarded the Dean's Doctoral Award in Spring 2012.
Andrea Procter has successfully passed the oral exam for her PhD thesis.
Joy Brander has been awarded the SSHRC J.A. Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship - Master's Scholarship.
Angelina Leggo has been awarded the SSHRC J.A. Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship - Master's Scholarship.
Nehraz Mahmud is a recipient of the 2012 Trudeau Foundation Scholarship. Details of the annoucement can be found at http://www.trudeaufoundation.ca/welcome.
Aaron Lemkow will be awarded the title "Fellow of the School of Graduate Studies" in May 2012.
Elizabeth Whitten is the recipient of the SSHRC J. Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's Scholarship.
Rachel Hogan is the recipient of the SSHRC J. Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's Scholarship.
Joshua Lalor is the recipient of The Professor Peter Hart Memorial Scholarship for the 2011/2012 scholarship year.
Andrea Procter co-edited the book, "Settlement, Subsistence, and Change among the Labrador Inuit: The Nunatsiavummiut experience" with David Natcher and Larry Felt. It will be published by the University of Manitoba Press in Spring 2012.
Sebastien Despres is the recipient of the 2010-2011 Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence for the Faculty of Arts.
Samantha Breslin was awarded the ISER Annual Student Essay Prize in November 2011 for a paper entitled "Putting down roots: Playing Irish and Newfoundland music in St. John's".
