Why Iowa?

If you like history, people, and hands-on learning, studying anthropology at the University of Iowa is the place for you.

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As a discipline centered on human life, anthropology offers unique tools to analyze, understand, and address pressing issues facing people and the planet.

News and announcements

One Day For Iowa: March 26, 2025

Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Meena Khandelwal

Anthropology faculty member recognized with UI’s highest teaching honor

Thursday, February 20, 2025
Meena Khandelwal, associate professor of anthropology, received the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad award from the U.S. Department of Education and the International Engagement Teaching Award from CLAS and UI International Programs.

Upcoming events

The Swine Republic: A reading by Chris Jones at Prairie Lights Bookstore promotional image

The Swine Republic: A reading by Chris Jones at Prairie Lights Bookstore

Thursday, April 3, 2025 7:00pm
Prairie Lights Books
Come to Prairie Lights Books for a special Darwin Day reading by Chris Jones, author of The Swine Republic. Published in 2023 by local publisher Ice Cube Press and named a 2024 "Great Reads from Great Places" book by the Library of Congress, The Swine Republic provides extensive research and reportage on the truth behind Iowa's infamously poor water quality, which you "...won't get ... from Iowa’s agricultural and political leaders." (icecubepress.com) Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature...
Fostering Climate Resilience Together promotional image

Fostering Climate Resilience Together

Friday, April 4, 2025 12:00pm to 1:30pm
Iowa City Public Library
Researchers, sovereign tribal communities, and women farmland-owners will discuss how they are collaborating to foster climate resilience through the newly established Central Midwest Climate Opportunities and Learning Team (CM CO-Learn), funded by the NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnerships program, that supports Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. This panel brings together a tribal community member, a woman farmland owner, and several project researchers to share what they are learning from...
Iowa: Land of Troubled Water, a talk by Chris Jones promotional image

Iowa: Land of Troubled Water, a talk by Chris Jones

Friday, April 4, 2025 3:30pm
Biology Building East
Chris Jones is author of The Swine Republic which was named a 2024 "Great Reads from Great Places" book by the Library of Congress. The book explores Iowa's infamously poor water quality through an analysis of research and reportage. Until recently, Jones was a research engineer with IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering at the University of Iowa. He holds a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Montana State University and a BA in chemistry and biology from Simpson College. Previous career stops include...
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Our teaching, research and public engagement are animated by anthropology’s appreciation for and study of all aspects of human difference.