Undergraduates Present Research
Anthropology undergraduates presented their excellent research in the form of poster presentations at the 2017 University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF). This is a university-wide event focused on highlighting unique and creative research endeavors of undergraduates across disciplines. Students at UURAF are mentored by faculty, and have the opportunity to present a poster or paper (oral presentation). Thirteen MSU students mentored by Anthropology faculty participated, covering topics as diverse as the racialization of Arab Americans post 9/11 (Breanna Escamilla, mentored by Najib Hourani), the analysis of carbonized food residue on ceramics (Rebecca Albert, mentored by William Lovis), and the limitations of race categories in skeletal remains identification (Erik Rose, mentored by Joseph Hefner). We are delighted to congratulate Funmi Odumosu for winning first place in the Poster Competition for her category. Her poster is titled “Race, Risk and Responsibility in a Diabetes Clinic” and she was mentored by Dr. Linda Hunt. To read more about all those who presented, click here.
Rebecca K. Albert Wins Paper Award
Undergraduate student Becca Albert was honored at the 2017 Society for American Archaeology (SAA) meeting for her paper on pre-contact maize in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Becca was awarded the “Best Undergraduate Student Paper Award” jointly by the Institute for Field Research (IFR) and the SAA. This award, which includes a $1,000 cash prize, acknowledges exceptional scholarly work among undergraduate archaeology students. In Becca’s case, the award committee wrote that “[Rebecca’s paper] employs a methodologically rigorous microbotanical analysis to demonstrate that carbonized residue on pottery from the Winter Site, AMS dated to 100 cal B.C., contains maize phytoliths. This finding pushes back the earliest date for maize in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan 800 years earlier than existing dates.” Rebecca is mentored by Dr. William Lovis.
Update from the Undergraduate Anthropology Club
“Our Club has been very engaged in activities over the past year. Our primary focus is to facilitate undergraduate engagement so that students can further develop their knowledge across anthropological topics, explore opportunities within the department and socialize with fellow Anthropology majors and minors. The continued support of the faculty, many of whom have joined us for our biweekly meetings, is greatly appreciated. The club had several professors speak about field school opportunities, including the Art and Archaeology Field School, the Maya Cultural History Field School in Belize and the Campus Archaeology Program. We also held a Graduate Student Panel where current graduate students in Anthropology answered questions about the application process and graduate school in general. We are also preparing to announce the winner of our annual paper competition and Professor of the Year. The winners are announced at the annual student vs. faculty jeopardy game. Besides our regular meetings, we have gone on several field trips, including a visit to Uncle John’s Cider Mill, as well as to the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology and the Natural History Museum in Ann Arbor. We also held several socials throughout the year, including coffee hours, board game nights, crafting parties, study nights and more on a biweekly basis. These events give students the opportunity to network and make friends with other students in the club.” -The Officers, 2017
For more information on our undergraduate club, click here.
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