In the Thick of It

What happens when studies on teenagers come from teenagers themselves, rather than adults? What insights emerge – or are clarified – when teenagers are placed as central analysts in their own lives?  These questions guide the work of the Museum of Contemporary American Teenagers (MoCAT). Started in 2017 by David Lopilato, anthropology teacher at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Maryla...

When time is short, can ethnography still go deep? In this episode, we talked with Professor Thurka Sangaramoorthy about this. Dr. Sangaramoorthy is a Professor and the chair of the Department of Anthropology at American University. She is a cultural and medical anthropologist and global health expert with over 25 years of experience in community-engaged ethnographic research across the United Sta...

Can you do fieldwork on a roller coaster line? In this episode, we talked with Dr. Mary-Caitlyn Valentinsson about this. She is a linguist and anthropologist specializing in media, pop culture, and fan communities. She is the Manager of Ethnographic Research at Universal Destinations and Experiences. Dr. Valentinsson holds a PhD in Anthropology and Linguistics from the University of Arizona and a...

What happens when ethnography leaves the university? In this episode, we talked with Amir Mohamed about this. Amir holds a PhD in Anthropology from Cornell University, and he is a research consultant who leads end-to-end research projects that drive meaningful change within organizations. He specializes in designing and managing research that brings clarity to complex business challenges, collabor...

What does a playful anthropology look like? In this episode, we talked with Mike Sullivan about this. He is a creative community catalyst with over 20 years of experience as an executive director, an educator, a performer, a project manager, and an entrepreneur. Mike holds a BA in Anthropology and an MA in Public Anthropology. He has received two awards from Capital of Children for co-creation and...

What does it take to keep a public anthropology lab alive? In this episode, we talked with Giselle Figueroa about this. She is a PhD candidate at the Department of Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Founding Director of the Laboratorio de Antropología Abierta (Open Anthropology Lab). She is a SAPIENS Public Scholar Training Fellow and has received the Wenn...

Can ethnography be a tool for activism? In this episode, we talked with Professor Manissa Maharawal about this. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at American University. She is a cultural anthropologist and critical geographer. Her work focuses on eviction, race, displacement, and the spatial and temporal dynamics of contemporary urban social movements. She co-founded...