what is an anthropologist?
DESCRIPTION
Presentation for an elementary school career day.TRANSCRIPT
WHAT IS AN ANTHROPOLOGIST?
Dr. Mark Allen Peterson
Presentation for 4th Grade Career Day at Brookwood Elementary School, Hamilton, Ohio
When I was a kid…
…I had a favorite TV show.
When I grew up…
…I wanted to be a globetrotting scientist who took his kids with him on adventures all over
the world!
You have to do a lot of school…
University of Montana UCLA
Catholic University of America Brown University
…to be a scientist
B.A.
M.A.Ph.D.
“Anthropology is the most scientific of the
humanities, and the most humanistic of the
sciences”
What Is Anthropology?
Anthropology is the scientific study of human beings
What are some ways humans are
different from other animals?
The Four Fields
Humans shape their material environment more Archaeology
Humans differ in their physical form
Physical/Biological Anthropology
Humans have a unique communication system
Linguistic Anthropology
Humans act according to learned knowledge systems
Cultural Anthropology
Archaeology
Studies how humans change and use their physical environment
Examines material environment of past societies for clues about their lives
My son Jaden at the ancient Temple of Karnak in Egypt.
Physical Anthropology
Examines how and why humans are biologically similar to and different from other animals
At the Cairo zoo. I am being stupid here—moments later the chimpanzee knocked my glasses 20 feet!
Linguistic Anthropology
How humans use language to communicate
How languages spread around the world and change
How people learn languages
Jaden spoke no Arabic and this man spoke no English—so they communicated by drawing pictures!
Cultural Anthropology
Describes and analyzes what people know about the world, and how their beliefs affect the ways they act
Jaden is not thrilled about being blessed before a wedding in Ajmer, India.
What Do I Do as an Anthropologist?
Me
My Wife, Dawna
The Pearl
Mosque in
Delhi, India
I Travel…Me
My daughter Thea
My daughter Sophie
My daughter Madison
Dawna
JadenHis Holiness
the Dalai Lama
I Do Research…
I am with two of my research assistants at Delhi University in India
I Write Books…
I Teach…
I Mentor Students…
I Give Lectures…
I Go To Conferences…
(to learn from people who are smarter than me!)
I Consult…
I Conduct Field Schools…
And the Best Thing of All…
…I’m a globetrotting scientist who takes his kids with him on adventures all over the world!
Questions?