What Is An Anthropologist?

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?