What are NEIU Anthropology Students doing?  Here are some examples of the research and activities of current undergraduate students.  If you are a current student of anthropology at NEIU and would like your information to be considered for this page, please speak to any member of the faculty.

Bianca Parrish and Marissa Wolf

       In the summer of 2010, NEIU anthropology students Bianca Parrish and Marissa Wolf spent two weeks back-packing in Colombia South America.

       "We started our journey in La Boquilla, an Afro-Colombian fishing village, continued on to the bright ancient walled city of Cartegena and the mountainous city of Medellin, and ended our journey in the capital city of Bogota. A country like Colombia is a cultural anthropologist dream, with so many different cultural influences which were obvious just by stepping out the plane. The siestas were a dream come true and something that should be adopted into American culture. I miss the fresh food the most. I look forward to visiting Latin America in the near future. The country of Colombia has a special place in my heart. So forget the rumors and give Colombia a chance. You are bound to fall in love."
Nicki (Timian) Moulton

        For the past three years I have been volunteering and interning at the Adler Planetarium, where I have been learning book conservation. This has given me wonderful opportunities to get a close-up look at how books were constructed hundreds of years ago (surprisingly, they hold up a lot better than books do nowadays!), as well as the rare opportunity to hold first editions of works by Galileo and Copernicus! I have also helped to install exhibit cases for the museum, as well as conservation reports for incoming objects, which translates into writing a dizzyingly-in-depth explanation of everything you notice about an object. My knowledge of early space exploration has helped the planetarium, too! I recognized an Alexei Leonov painting that the museum had acquired (he was the first man to walk in space and an enthusiastic artist) and now there are plans of putting the artwork on display for the public. Without my knowledge, it may have gone unnoticed behind the scenes.
       My other passion in life is knitting. I've spent years making up my own patterns (since I rarely use a pattern without modifying it anyways), which has opened the doors to a publishing career! I am going to be getting a book published of my original patterns for knitted dolls by John Wiley and Sons in March 2011, called Knit This Doll! A Step-By-Step Guide to Knitting Your Own Customizable Amigurumi Doll. I'm also in the works of getting a second book deal, about knitted projects with a Jewish theme.
       Being an anthropology student at NEIU has helped me think more critically about other things I'm interested in. I am writing my Honors Thesis on why religious conversion has been increasing, and I hope to go on to graduate school to learn more about the anthropology of religion.
 

       Since participating in the 2007 NEIU Archaeological Field School in Belize I have been analyzing the data that we exported back to the US.   I'm working to better understand the relationship between the residents of a Late Classic Maya farmstead and their environment through archaeobotanical analysis.  In a world where provision means a trip to the store or pharmacy, it is amazing to consider how these people survived with so little. The research being conducted here at NEIU works to clarify how they dealt with subsistence issues, ritual plant use, use of space, physical ailments, etc. 

       When I'm not investigating the ancient Maya utilization of the environment I'm stepping on Cheerios and changing poopy diapers worn by my 17-month-old daughter.

Walter (BJ) Clifford

 

Kelsey Nordine

       I spent the first half of summer, 2009 working in northwestern Belize with the NEIU archaeological field school. Most of our efforts were concentrated on excavating a Late Classic era Maya home to collect chemical and botanical samples from the structure floor.

       Since returning from the field, I've spent time in the lab here at NEIU processing samples of organic remains from previous field schools. We are looking for preserved seeds, flowers, fruits and carbonized material, which is currently being entered into a program that maps the distribution of seed densities.

       While playing in/sorting through super-old dirt may not seem the most glamorous way to spend your time, actually handling artifacts that were used by the Maya over 1,200 years ago is a pretty incredible, hands-on way to learn about their culture.