"...the most scientific of the humanities and the most humanistic of the sciences".  With those two prases, Eric Wolf (1923-1999) captured the essence of anthropology.  This quote also reflects the 'flavor' of the discipline as conceived in North American departments where we aim to explore what it means to be human across time and space.  We do this by using the four field approach.  Specifically, students work to integrate knowledge from archaeological, biological, linguistic, and socio-cultural anthropology. 

If you choose to study anthropology you will find it a fascinating, rewarding, enlightening, and at times, bewildering adventure.  As a discipline, anthropology will simultaneously require your intellectual and emotional commitment.  On a given day in your classes and research you may find yourself scrutinizing religious iconography or puzzling over comparative dentition in your mouth and that of an adult, male orangutan.  Or perhaps you will be preparing for your first research abroad in The Bahamas, Brazil, Ecuador, or India.  Anthropology faculty have educated and guided our students in each of these locations this past year. 

Whatever you do, enter into the anthropological enterprise!  This is your department so please participate--for example, attend the Lectures in Contemporary Anthropology [LICA] when you see notices or receive e-mail on the student listserv.

During this fall semester, 2010, you will have the extraordinary opportunity to attend and participate in many events surrounding the visit of His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama to Miami University's campus on October 21st.  His visit to your your university acknowledges and celebrates our growing relationship with the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics [IBD] in Dharamsala, India, the site of the Tibetan Government in Exile and residence of the Dalai Lama.  Since 2004, two Miami anthropology faculty members have offered summer workshops and in 2009 they launched a fall, semester-long program of study in Dharamsala for Miami University and other interested students. 

For details on the visit of the Dalai Lama consult the url listed below.  For information about the Dharamsala program contact Dr. Deborah Akers [akersds@muohio.edu] or Dr. H. Sidky [sidkyh@muohio.edu].

http://www.miami.muohio.edu/dalai-lama/

I hope you embrace your anthropological education as a life changing experience.  We hope you find it exhilarating and fulfilling.  WELCOME!

Linda F. Marchant
Professor and Chair
marchalf@muohio.edu