KU to host 2023 World Applied Anthropology Congress

LAWRENCE — The World Applied Anthropology Congress will meet at the University of Kansas Lawrence campus from May 31 to June 3. The WAAC is the inaugural flagship global meeting of the Anthropological Association for Humankind, an organization dedicated to studying humanity from a perspective to enhance human welfare.

"This gathering is significant because it will bring together anthropologists from several nations and fields to address contemporary topics and challenges from an anthropological perspective. It will also allow anthropological researchers and practitioners to network, collaborate and exchange ideas," said Bartholomew Dean, associate professor of anthropology and vice president of the Anthropological Association for Humankind.

WAAC will bring together four subdisciplines of anthropology — archaeological, biological, sociocultural and linguistic — to advance the professional interests of those working in a broad spectrum of fields, including academia, business, education, law and global health, among others. In addition, Michael Crawford, professor emeritus of anthropology and founder of the Laboratory of Biological Anthropology at KU, will be honored during a special all-day session.

The first day of the WAAC will include the opening convocation and keynote address. William Leonard, Abraham Harris Professor of Anthropology & Global Health and director of the Global Health Studies Program at Northwestern University, will deliver "Humans at the Extremes: Exploring Human Adaptation to Ecological and Social Stressors."

A distinguished lecture titled "Does Human Rights Advocacy Change Anthropology?" will be delivered by Virginia Dominguez, Edward William & Jane Marr Gutgsel Endowed Professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, on the second day of the conference.

Subhadra Mitra Channa, professor of anthropology at the University of Delhi, will offer the closing address, "Anthropological Knowledge to Address Human Problems."

Panel discussions, talks and poster sessions focusing on current issues from an anthropological viewpoint will take place throughout the World Congress. In addition, the Wenner-Gren Foundation will support the participation of anthropology students from India, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic and the U.S. in a Professionalization and Mentorship Certificate Program as a way to encourage a new generation of social scientists. All sessions will include a virtual simulcast.

The World Applied Anthropology Congress aims to coordinate efforts, bridge gaps and comprehensively examine innovative anthropological strategies for effectively responding to humanity's global challenges.

The organizing committee is dedicated to the equitable representation of participants. Organizers aim to support travel and lodging for students and scholars worldwide, particularly from countries where such activities are not sufficiently maintained. In addition to the Wenner-Gren Foundation, this event is supported by KU’s Institute for Policy & Social Research and the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies.

Find out more about available financial assistance on the WAAC website.

Complete information can be found on the WAAC website. Registration has been extended beyond the May 15 deadline.