Anthropology Symposium Showcases Undergraduate Research

The Humboldt State Anthropology Department will host its first-ever undergraduate research symposium 6 p.m. Nov. 29 in the Native American Forum on the first floor of the Behavioral and Social Sciences Building.

The conference will feature poster and podium presentations on a variety of topics including cultural, archaeological, biological and linguistic anthropology.

“Many of our undergraduate anthropology students are conducting independent research and a lot of that research is on the graduate level,” HSU Anthropology Professor Mary Glenn says. “This symposium is a long overdue opportunity for them to gain valuable presentation experience and share their work with the community.”

Research topics include:

  • ‘Human longevity: Does behavior play a role?’ by Sarah Williams
  • ‘Are you connected? Exploring social dance communications’ by Emma Green
  • ‘Grain-fed vs. grass-fed: Is meat undermining our health?’ by Justine Cook
  • ‘Mischief managed: An analysis of the online Harry Potter community’ by Holly Cavanaugh
  • ‘The Hygiene Hypothesis: Is cleanliness making us sick?’ by Alicia Powell
  • ‘What’s so funny? Applications in the anthropology of jokes’ by Nikki Martensen, Casey Dobbins and Rachael Marte-Taylor
  • ‘My pinch on the rock climbing community: A deeper look at what makes a climbing community’ by Mackenzie Terzian

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Doors open at 6 p.m. and podium presentations begin at 6:30 p.m. A question and answer session will follow each presentation. For more information, contact Mary Glenn in the Anthropology Department at (707) 826-3126.