Anthropology and the Environment Section

Anthropology and the Environment

April 2003

Rebecca Zarger, Section Editor

Anthropology and Environment Section

Announcing the First Julian Steward Award (1997-2002) We are pleased to announce the Julian Steward Award for the best monograph in environmental/ecological anthropology. The first award of $500 will be presented at the 2003 AAA meeting in Chicago this November. Monographs in environmental/ecological anthropology published from 1997 to 2002 are eligible for the first award. The author(s) does not have to be an anthropologist, but the monograph must employ anthropological method and theory. The deadline for nominations for the first award was March 1, 2003. Deadlines for future awards will be December 31. Judges for the first award are William Durham (Stanford), Devon Peña (Washington), and Thomas Sheridan (Arizona). For more information about the Steward Award, please contact Thomas Sheridan (A & E President-Elect) at tes@email.arizona.edu.

Rappaport Prize and Jr. Scholar Award In addition to the new Steward Award, the section will continue to award the Rappaport Prize for the best student paper and the Jr. Scholar Award at the 2003 meetings. The Jr. Scholar Award recognizes scholars early in their academic career with an outstanding peer-reviewed journal article in the field of environmental/ecological anthropology. Deadlines and instructions for submission for the awards will be announced soon.

Campus Greening Workshop Proposed for AAA 2003 By Kate Meatyard and Peggy Barlett
A few anthropologists have taken leadership in campus environmental awareness and efforts to move colleges and universities toward sustainability, but in general anthropologists have not been in the forefront around the country. At the 2001 AAA meetings, an informal call went out for a breakfast meeting for those who wished to share experiences and network about campus sustainability issues. A dozen folks attended, some who had pioneered new courses or new programs, and others who were just starting to build a personal sense of mission with regard to campus action. An email list was created, and those present began to share stories and build a sense of enthusiasm about what is possible.

To continue to support those anthropologists who are beginning to take leadership, A&E sponsored a Saturday morning discussion meeting at last year’s AAA in New Orleans (2002). Fifteen folks came together and, again, the opportunity to share experiences and seek advice was rich. Several leaders reported significant progress underway on their campuses to design new living situations for students, new curriculum development for faculty, local organic food production, energy conservation work, and community alliances. Others reported that little was happening at their institutions, and the group brainstormed about how to initiate change. The conclusion of the meeting was that much could be gained by a more thorough discussion and sharing of experiences, and Kate Meatyard (St. Mary’s) and Peggy Barlett (Emory) agreed to submit a proposal for a workshop at this year’s AAA meetings in Chicago (2003).

Anthropologists have an important role to plan in campus “greening” efforts, because the heart of such efforts is cultural transformation. These profound paradigm changes are supported by building networks of trust, and anthropologists are often particularly good at facilitating connections across university/college boundaries. We understand the multiple languages that have to be used to connect facilities management folks with undergraduates and faculty with community organizations. We also have skills in grant-writing and PR, as well as facilitating discussions, which can be helpful to the broad-based grassroots groups that usually form the engine behind campus change.

We hope to see interested A&E members at the workshop in Chicago!

Please send items of interest, essays, commentaries, and news to Rebecca Zarger; rzarger@uga.edu or rzarger@nas.edu; The National Academies, WS1103, 500 Fifth St, NW, Washington, DC 20001; 202-334-3915.