About Anthropology Day

Anthropology Day is celebrated on the third Thursday of February each year. It is a day dedicated to promoting and showcasing the discipline of anthropology. The 2023 Anthropology Day, which takes place on February 16, is a day of celebration, engagement, and inspiration for anthropologists and anthropology enthusiasts alike.

2023 AAA Events

The American Anthropological Association (AAA), the world’s largest professional organization for anthropologists, is hosting several events and activities to celebrate this year’s Anthropology Day.

One of the most exciting events is the inaugural virtual “Connecting the Dots: AnthroDay Journal Club.” This event, which takes place from 7:00-8:30 PM ET, provides a platform for anthropologists and enthusiasts to come together and learn about cutting-edge scholarship in the field. This year’s journal club discussion topic is “Bringing Your Full Self to Work: Fashioning LGBTQ Bankers on Wall Street” by Spencer Kaplan. This event explores identity, diversity, and inclusion amongst LGBTQ employees on Wall Street and uses anthropological methods to examine the relationship between one’s identity and position as human capital.

Another exciting aspect of Anthropology Day 2023 is the Unessay Competition hosted by the AAA. This competition invites 6th-12th grade students to participate in a writing competition focused on transitions. The competition winners will receive a $50.00 gift card, and their pieces will be published on the Anthropology News website. This competition provides an excellent opportunity for students to engage with and learn about anthropology and showcase their perspectives and ideas on the topic.

2023 Community Events

  • Anne Arundel Community College – Two virtual talks, open to the public, with subject experts. Topics include:
    • The Anthropology of Human Space Exploration – Thursday, February 16, from 11am – 12:15pm (Register)
    • NASA and Space Force: The Architects of Humanity Away from Earth – Thursday, February 16 from 2:00pm – 3:15pm (Register)
  • AnthroDay Milano – Is planning three days of programming starting on February 16. The extensive program includes workshops, meetings, and walking tours that will show how anthropology can serve and improve the world.
  • California State University, Long Beach, Department of Anthropology – A variety of events to celebrate the day including a podcast, film screenings, bingo, forensics table, pottery making, and storytelling booth.
  • Charlotte’s Anthropology Legion – Is planning a mock field site for an archaeological dig. In addition to Charlotte’s Anthropology legion members, members of a local high school anthropology club will be invited to participate.
  • Grand Valley State University Anthropology Club – Planning to go to K-12 schools to spread awareness of anthropology as an academic discipline, as well as host activities in their university’s student center
  • Hacettepe University, Human Behavioral Ecology and Archaeometry Laboratory (IDEA lab), Ankara, Türkiye – A variety of events to celebrate the day with students and academics in anthropology and the public, including lectures, an experimental archaeology presentation, film screenings, and more. Further details on the schedule of events to be announced. 
  • Lam Museum of Anthropology, Wake Forest University – Presenting a lecture by new WFU Anthropology Department Assistant Professor, Dr. Timothy Gitzen entitled “Bunkers and Museums: Demilitarizing Art in South Korea” at 6pm ET.
  • Northern Illinois University – Hosting an international game night!
  • Purchase College, SUNY, Anthropology Club – Holding a film screening and raffle with anthropology trivia.
  • Splat Lab – We will be hosting one of our popular FREE virtual classes in the series “Splat Lab at Home” for World Anthropology Day, and we will be discussing the cross-cultural uses of Gold! We will be ending with an art project where participants get to design their own “gold artifacts,” and share their creations with the group! Learn more and enroll here!
  • University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus – Anthropology students in Trinidad and Tobago will share on their experiences of a virtual exchange with undergraduate students at an American university, learning about cultural particularities and cross-cultural similarities. Students in the Caribbean will also share on their semester-long virtual and in-person ethnographic projects on a various topics, posted on the department’s “Doing Ethnography” blog.
  • Wilbur Wright College Anthropology Discipline – Holding an event featuring live commentary by anthropology faculty on current and classic popular movie clips that have an anthropological theme, using a Mystery Science Theater 3000 model!

Why Anthro Day?

Anthropology Day is not just about celebrating the discipline but also about sharing it with the world around us. The AAA provides a range of resources, including programming tips for campus groups, museums, workplaces, and K-12 teachers, as well as a newly updated K-12 and Community Outreach Toolkit to help individuals and groups plan events that share anthropology with a wider audience. The goal of Anthropology Day is to promote the discipline and inspire the next generation of anthropologists.

About Anthropology

Anthropology is a discipline that explores the complexity of human life, from culture to language, to social and economic systems, to the human experience. It provides a unique perspective on the world and helps us understand how people live, interact, and make sense of the world around them. The study of anthropology has the power to help us understand the challenges that people face and how we can work together to create a better world.

Get Involved

In conclusion, Anthropology Day 2023 is a day to celebrate anthropology’s power and share it with the world. Whether you are an anthropologist, an anthropology enthusiast, or simply someone interested in learning more about the discipline, there is something for everyone on Anthropology Day. 

So, be sure to participate in the events, engage with the resources, and, most importantly, inspire others to learn about the wonders of anthropology!