91ÑÇÉ«

On May 1, 91ÑÇɫ’s Department of Anthropology hosted an engaging and hands-on Anthropology Day workshop for 75 students from Bur Oak Secondary School. Held in the new CoLearn Active Learning Classrooms on the Keele campus and supported by the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), the event introduced students to the discipline of anthropology through interactive workshops and a campus-wide research project.

The event was led by Professor Lisa Davidson, Undergraduate Program Director in Anthropology, and supported by a team of dedicated graduate and undergraduate student volunteers who guided students through the day’s activities.

The morning began with a lively introduction to anthropology’s core subfields and included a short video on mortuary and forensic archaeology, produced by the department’s archaeologist, Dr. Emma Yasui. From there, students participated in a series of inquiry-based mini-workshops on topics ranging from K-Pop and materiality to youth activism, traditional medicine, and social media—each designed and facilitated by graduate students with undergraduate support.

The core of the day was a unique, experiential learning project titled Exploring 91ÑÇÉ«: The Anthropology of Space and Place. In this project, students were divided into small groups and sent across the Keele campus to conduct ethnographic research. Equipped with cameras and guided prompts, they explored the campus through an anthropological lens—observing, photographing, and reflecting on the ways space, place, and identity intersect. Their photos were uploaded to a GIS-based digital map of the university, forming a collective portrait of 91ÑÇÉ« as experienced by first-time visitors.

Later in the day, students gathered in small groups to analyze their data. Working collaboratively with their facilitators, they examined the sensory, emotional, and social dimensions of the campus environment. The exercise culminated in short group narratives that explored questions of belonging, visibility, and the meanings embedded in everyday university spaces.

"This was an incredibly successful and energizing event," said Professor Othon Alexandrakis, Chair of the Department of Anthropology. "It’s so important to introduce students to anthropology early, not only to spark interest in the field but also to show them how anthropology can offer tools for understanding their everyday lives, relationships, and surroundings. These students came away seeing 91ÑÇɫ—and themselves—in a new light."

The event concluded with a brief session on the many career paths anthropology can open up and the ways students might continue to pursue the discipline. Each participant received a small takeaway package to commemorate their visit.

By opening its doors to local high school students and providing immersive, hands-on learning experiences, the Department of Anthropology continues to demonstrate its commitment to accessibility, engagement, and the power of anthropological thinking.