About the day
Over 40 universities offer courses in anthropology in the UK.
However, because anthropology is not yet offered as a subject in the National Curriculum, students entering Higher Education do not have first-hand experience of the subject to guide their choice. Some students may not have heard of anthropology and others may have misconceptions of what it is about. The London Anthropology Day aims to change this!
The next London Anthropology Day is on 10th July 2008 from 9.30-4pm in the Clore Education Centre at the British Museum. The day consists of an introduction to anthropology, (both biological and social), and then participants can choose between a range of interactive workshops run by anthropology lecturers. Some workshops will involve going into the British Museum’s galleries. All the universities will have a stall and representatives at the day and there will also be careers and photographic exhibitions. Drinks are provided but participants need to bring a packed lunch.
To see what the day is like and find out a little more about anthropology you can watch two short films “Inside Anthropology” created by filmmakers Ed Owles and Cinzia Rocchi,and "Exploring Biological and Social Anthropology" by Ed Owles.
To find out more about the day's schedule of events downloadThe London Anthropology Day 2008 Programme here(pdf - 67.62KB).
For students
The London Anthropology Day is an opportunity for Year 12, 13 and mature students to get a taste of anthropology and of the diversity of sub-disciplines and degree programmes offered. You’ll meet current students and lecturers in many anthropology departments and get the chance to experience first-hand what it might be like to study anthropology at university.
For Careers advisors and AimHigher co-ordinators.
Places are reserved for Careers Advisors and AimHigher co-ordinators in order to sustain the widening participation aims of the day and a special workshop is put on with the needs of these staff in mind.
For Teachers
The London Anthropology Day is also a chance for teachers interested in developing anthropology within the National Curriculum to meet, discuss ideas and find out about current projects to introduce anthropology to pre-university education. As well as being able to attend the student workshops to find out more about anthropology, special teachers only workshops will be available. Contact the Royal Anthropological Institute’s Education Officer, Nafisa Fera, for more information
The 2007 event
The fourth London Anthropology Day took place on 9th July 2007. Over 200 students, teachers and careers advisors attended with 16 university departments from all over the country taking part. The day was organised by Professor Chris Knight and Dr Camilla Power from the University of East London in collaboration with Ben Burt from the British Museum and Gemma Jones and Susanne Hammacher from the Royal Anthropological Institute.
The day was a great sucess, with several universities reporting increases in applications as a result. Students were able to take part in workshops on subjects as diverse as forensic anthropology and the meaning of witchcraft in the context of HIV/AIDS. A record number of students and universities took part. At a special workshop for teachers, Melanie Knetsch from the Economics and Social Research Council asked teachers' opinions on social science teaching resources. Sarah Longair, the British Museum's School's and Young Audiences Education Officer, also ran a session on teaching with museum objects, which teachers found very beneficial.
Download detailed descriptions of the workshops on offer at the 2007 London Anthropology Day (pdf - 120.29 KB).
The 2006 event
The third London Anthropology Day took place on 6th July 2006. Nearly 150 students, teachers and careers advisors attended with 13 university departments taking part. The day was organised by Professor Chris Knight and Dr Camilla Power from the University of East London in collaboration with Ben Burt from the British Museum and Gemma Jones and Susanne Hammacher from the Royal Anthropological Institute.
Professor Chris Stringer from the Natural History Museum gave a special guest lecture on the early human occupation of Britain. Gemma Jones, the education officer at the Royal Anthropological Institute ran a workshop for teachers and careers advisors on initiatives to introduce anthropology to pre-university education. Students took part in workshops ranging from the anthropology of fairy tales, child labour and primate communication.
You can download the 2006 programme here (pdf - 325.45 kB).
