Celtic Europe topic of UNBC talk

Globalization, culture and the politics of identity in Celtic Europe is the subject of the next event of UNBC’s Anthropology in our Backyards series.

The presentation on Thursday at The Exploration Place Museum Atrium, 7 p.m. start, features reflections and experiences from anthropology and political science students who participated in UNBC’s ethnographic field school in Ireland and the Isle of Man in May 2018.

The work focused on issues of globalization, cultural change, the place of heritage and the politics of identity. Students met and interviewed key officials from governmental and non-governmental agencies, visited historical and cultural sites of significance, attended academic presentations and participated in musical and cultural performances.

Anthropology associate professor Dr. Angèle Smith and political science professor Dr. Gary Wilson led the field school.

“This field school is a wonderful opportunity for the students and the instructors alike,” Smith said. “The students learn about critical social and political issues from their on-the-ground perspective. It teaches them invaluable practical research skills but also teaches them significant interpersonal and communication skills – arming them to be better critical thinkers and problem solvers, and ultimately better citizens as they work closely with communities.

“For the instructors, we get to share with the students the issues that we are passionate about while bringing them to these extraordinary international places that we feel so connected to.”

The event is free and open to the public.