Diary for 25th February to 31st February 2010

THURSDAY 25th February - RAI's International Meaning of Water Photo Contest

Last week I posted news about the RAI's Meaning of Water International Photo Contest. Since then, I have received questions as to whether or not professional anthropologists and photography students are able to enter the contest. The answer is yes. The contest welcomes photographs from anyone with a passion for photography and anthropology. Professional photographers however, are not eligible. To find out more about the contest and download an application form visit: www.discoveranthropology.org.uk



FRIDAY 26th February- 13 Moon Screenings

The Native Spirit Foundation in collaboration with SOAS Students' Union present regular evening film screenings & talks promoting the cultures of indigenous people taking place every full moon. Tonight at 6pm in Room G2 at SOAS three films will be shown: Meet the Preak, a film about a unique man in New Zealand who questions the need to be part of 'modern society' ; the second film is called 13 Pueblos, Defending Water, Air & Land, and looks at a group of indigenous communities in Mexico working collectively to protect their land. The final film Alcatraz is not an island looks at a group of Native American students and activists who in 1969 decided to occupy Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. Admission is £6 or £3 for students.



SATURDAY 27th February- Brighton Science Festival

As part of the Brighton Science Festival from10-6pm today in the Sallis Benney Theatre (56-58 Parade) there will games, talks, debates and fun activities for all ages aimed at celebrating the diversity of science. There are some fascinating discussions, such as The Lying Ape, led by body language expert Harry Witchel. Harry teachers you how to 'read' body language and decipher when people are lying to you or telling the truth. Tickets for the day are 10 pounds or 6 pounds concession. To find out more about the festival's programme visit: www.BrightonScience.com




SUNDAY 28th February- Global Empires Post-Graduate Research Project

The University of Aberdeen is offering funding for a number of Masters and PhD studentships within their interdisciplinary project on 'Ideas, Practices, and Impacts of Global Empire'. The project is being overseen by a supervisory team drawn from History, Anthropology, Hispanic Studies, International Relations, and the University's museums. The project is interested in a number of themes: cross cultural encounters and collecting; material culture and visual representations of encounters; trade, migration, and empire; the ideologies of empires; and resistance and the ends of empires. The closing date for applications is 30th April 2010. Visit this website for more information.








MONDAY 1st March- ISEFF Ethnographic Film Festival

Goldsmith's International Student Ethnographic Film Festival festival is starting tomorrow (2nd March). The festival focuses on collaborations and engagements between anthropologists, filmmakers and their 'subjects' in ethnographic films. Running for three days (2nd-4th March) the festival has a diverse range of films for its' three main themes: faces, places and spaces. For more information visit:www.iseff.co.uk/





TUESDAY 2nd March- The Giant Buddhas

Today I am heading to UCL's Institute of Archaeology Lecture Theatre to see the award- winning film 'The Giant Buddhas' by Christian Frei. Produced by independent Swiss film maker and producer Chris Frei, the film tells the story of the destruction of the famous Bayiman Buddha Statues in Afghanistan, and reflects on issues of faith, fanaticism, terror, tolerance, ignorance and identity. The screening starts at 6:15. Entrance is free and all are welcome.





WEDNESDAY 3rd March- Online access to archival material: taking a longterm perspective

Today I am going to reserve a free place for tomorrow's 4th March seminar at the Centre for Anthropology at the British Museum. The seminar is entitled: Mission 21/Basel Mission- Longterm Perspectives of Web Access. The seminar focuses on the history and process of digitisation of archival photographs, maps and manuscripts of the Basel Mission in Switzerland. Anthropologist and historical photo curator, Barbara Frey-Naf will be speaking about the significance of the collection as a resource for academic research in cultural anthropology, geography, history and environmental sciences. The seminar is free and open to all. Advanced booking required. To book your free place email:JAyres@thebritishmuseum.ac.uk