Paper Short Abstract:

The paper elaborates on the strength of anthropology in the public dissemination of research results. It also argues that anthropologists make particlarly good qualitative methods teachers. Anthropologists need to make themselves heard among those who decide the institutional fate of disciplines.

Paper Abstract:

In this paper, I elaborate on my experiences as an anthropologist who has always worked in multidisciplinary units but who nevertheless finds anthropology a core identifier and a significant asset in her professional toolbox. First of all, I elaborate on the strengths of anthropological training in research dissemination activities. Instead of anthropology being disregarded as anecdotal, my experiences with policy-makers and other non-academic stakeholders have been overtly positive: they have welcomed ethnographic insights and claim that this is exactly the kind of information that they need. Secondly, I elaborate on my experiences as a teacher of qualitative research methods arguing that anthropological training makes one not only knowledgeable of multiple data collection methods but also an expert on research ethics.

In my exprience, being an anthropologist among “others” has never been a weakness or an obstacle but rather an asset and a strength. At the same time, I am concerned of the future of the discipline in today’s world where anthropology departments are under threat and those in power often consider other disciplines more useful. Anthropology has a lot to offer in today’s world and ethnographic insights can help societies to a great extent. Yet, those in power do not seem to understand it, and it is crucial that anthropologists make themselves and their expertise loud and visible.