Planetary Perspectives

A Note on the Optical Sub-Consciousness in Ethnographic Fieldwork Since the heyday of ethnographic fieldwork in the opening decade of the 20th century, anthropologists have brought cameras to their respective... 

Climate: An All-Consuming Problem

The Mother of Them All Research in many of the world’s most consumptive societies suggests that large majorities are now aware of the ubiquitous “simple steps” individuals can take to “save the... 

Living Climate Change in the Bolivian Highlands Through Mud and Lightning

Life with Mud I arrived in my field site in the highlands, or Altiplano, of western Bolivia concerned about the local and planetary impact of climate change. And yet since I began here I have found myself... 

Regional Climate Services

The Challenge of co-Producing Usable Knowledge The production of relevant and usable knowledge concerning climate constitutes a challenge for scientists, bridging in a renewed way the gap between those... 

Engaging Future Uncertainty and Climate Skeptics in the American West

Though global climate trends are well established and some places are experiencing substantial impacts already, there is still considerable uncertainty at the local level about the future implications... 

Anthropology Fieldwork and the Third Man

I watched Carol Reed’s “The Third Man” (1949) again last week, and I was again reminded what a perfect parable the film is for the ethnographic encounter.  It begins with Holly Martins’ arrival... 

What Can Anthropology Offer To Understanding Emancipatory Educational Practices?

A View From South America In my last column  I described some characteristics associated to emancipatory education as a perspective. I also stated that this is a long tradition in Latin America and has... 

Climate Change Isn’t Gender Neutral

Climate change is a global threat that increases the vulnerability of all populations, but not equally so. Given existing structures of inequality, access to resources and decision-making positions, and...