In our first year Key Skills in Anthropology module, students are introduced to the fundamental academic skills necessary to succeed in university and post-university employment. As part of the course, students are asked to write an essay on the topic of hair from a social and biological anthropological perspective. This week we are featuring an Read More…
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CRESIDA webinar by Professor Holly Dunsworth on tall men, broad women, difficult childbirth, helpless babies and oppressive scientific and pop culture myths
On 16 December 2020, Professor Holly Dunsworth from the University of Rhode Island presented a webinar in the CRESIDA seminar series titled ‘Tall men, broad women, difficult childbirth, and helpless babies have stronger evolutionary explanations than the oppressive myths to which science and pop culture cling’.
CRESIDA webinar by Professor Stuart Semple on the biological principles underpinning biological information systems
On 4 November 2020, CRESIDA’s Professor Stuart Semple presented a webinar in our CRESIDA seminar series titled ‘Geladas, genes and the clouds of Venus – compression as a fundamental principle of biological information systems’. Abstract A fundamental goal of the life sciences is to identify universal biological principles – the basic rules of organisation that Read More…
Spotlight on… James Davies
Position: Reader in Social Anthropology and Mental Health at the University of Roehampton Bio: James obtained his doctorate in social and medical anthropology from the University of Oxford in 2006 with a dissertation the construction of the psychotherapeutic practitioner. He is also a qualified psychotherapist and has practiced in various settings, including the NHS. James Read More…
Studying the effects of virtual substitutes for social interactions in a time of coronavirus
Human beings are social animals who rely heavily on face-to-face interactions and touch to deal with everyday stresses. Socially well-connected individuals are healthier, live longer and are generally less stressed. However, due to the social restrictions engendered by the Covid-19 pandemic, most people are suddenly cut off from physical contact with their friends and must Read More…
Cultural Politics on Tour – Across Northern Ireland
As part of our second year Cultural Politics on Tour module, students complete an expense-paid trip to Northern Ireland in order to apply the theories of cultural production, consumption, domination and resistance they learn to the ‘real-world’, culminating in a reflection piece. This week, our featured essay is by K. Gratia Mittelman. Gratia’s bio: K. Gratia Mittelman is a Read More…
The Anthropology of Life & Death: Death and emotional jet lag
As part of our third year Anthropology of Life and Death module, students explore cross-cultural understandings of life and death. This week, our featured essay is by Olivia Mounsor. Olivia’s bio: I have just completed my third year at Roehampton studying Anthropology and over the duration of my course I have been fascinated with animism Read More…
Being Human: Social and biological explanations for race and variation
As part of our first year Being Human module, students write an essay where they consider social and biological anthropological perspectives on a key topic in anthropology. This week, our featured essay is by Meenal Warrier. Meenal’s bio: I am a first year anthropology student. Anthropology became a field of interest for me because of how Read More…
Two CRESIDA staff win teaching awards
Dr Nadine Beckmann and Dr Colette Berbesque have both won inaugural Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching, making CRESIDA the only centre in the University to have multiple staff members win awards. Dr Beckmann conducts research on HIV/AIDS and Islam; sexuality, reproduction and notions of morality and uncertainty in Zanzibar; and biopolitics and health Read More…
A snail by any other name is a slug: Culture, nature and classification
By Kirsten Bell Since moving to the UK nine months ago, I have finally acquired a small garden – something I have lived without for most of my adult life. Having grown up in the tropics, I was therefore relatively unfamiliar with the scourge of gardeners everywhere: slugs and snails. However, this lack of exposure Read More…
