Outreach and public engagement in the Department of Anthropology

The University of Iowa’s core mission extends beyond the classrooms, laboratories, studios, and libraries where we educate students, conduct our research, and create new artistic and creative work. Equally important is our engagement with communities throughout Iowa, across the nation, and around the world.

As a discipline centered on human life, Anthropology offers unique tools that we apply to effectively address pressing issues facing people and the planet, such as racism, environmental degradation, disease, and social inequality. We support Indigenous and local communities in their efforts to achieve sovereignty, recognition and uphold human rights. Anthropology faculty are regularly interviewed on Iowa Public Radio to share their expertise. They present their research in public lecture series, such as those hosted by the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council and the Archaeological Institute of America-Iowa City chapter. They help to organize the annual Darwin Day events. Faculty and students work with Iowa communities to record their local histories and preserve the collections in their museums.

Global Health Studies outreach and public engagement

The Department of Anthropology's programs in Global Health Studies serve as a model of interdisciplinary education that engages students and faculty in real-world health problems while placing a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. This mission lends itself to Community Engagement, defined as "the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity."

Global Health Studies faculty members conduct research at a variety of sites worldwide, including Colombia, India, Haiti, the Caribbean, Germany, and Southeast Asia. Interested students work with faculty and staff to integrate international study and research opportunities into their graduation plans. As experts in their field, faculty are often asked to be part of public programming activities. Recent examples include a CLAS Theme Year Event, "Barriers to Health Equity in Iowa City: Centering Diverse Community Voices," an Obermann Center Pandemic Insights discussion, "Effects of COVID-19 on Food Systems," and an Iowa City Foreign Relations Council presentation on global garbage and global health.

There are many ways for Global Health Studies students to support local/global organizations which are working for health equity. Global Health Studies faculty and staff connect our students to intern and volunteer opportunities with organizations such as Proteus, Grow Johnson County, U Iowa Mobile Clinic, IC Compassion, Iowa City Free Medical Clinic, and Shot@Life. Additionally, through research projects and courses, students have collaborated with community organizations such as Open Heartland, Center for Worker Justice, Community Health Initiative/Haiti, the World Food Prize, the Special Olympics, and more.