AABA 2024 Workshops and Training Opportunities

We have an exciting lineup of workshops, discussions, and training opportunities at #AABA2024! Most of these workshops will take place in person only at the conference in Los Angeles. Some workshops will also accommodate virtual conference attendees (note that you must be registered for the conference to attend virtually). Most of the workshops occur over the lunch hour, so grab a lunch and join us!

Workshop locations will be listed in the app and in the program.

Some of the workshops require preregistration by March 1, 2024.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

Hybrid Workshop: NSF Mock Review

Wednesday, March 20th, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Organized by Rebecca Ferrell (National Science Foundation), Marta Alfonso-Durruty (National Science Foundation), Lauren Schroeder (University of Toronto Mississauga and AABA Professional Development Committee)

This workshop introduces postdoctoral researchers and junior faculty to the NSF merit review process through mock review exercises with experienced panelists and NSF program directors. This workshop will be offered in person and will have a Zoom component for virtual conference attendees. Registration required.

Workshop: Trauma and thermal damage to skeletal elements: keys to identification and interpretation

Wednesday, March 20th, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Organized by Alison Galloway (UC Santa Cruz), Chelsey Juarez (Fresno State University), Elayne Pope (Burned Bone)

This workshop reviews blunt force, sharp force, high velocity projection defects and thermal damage, focusing on how these occur and how fracture mechanism is determined. Registration required.

Workshop: CSViewer for Analysts – A big data approach to Cayo Santiago Rhesus macaque colony: A workshop on a software application to generate a user-friendly interface and to appropriate data analytical tools

Wednesday, March 20th, 1:00-5:00 pm

Organized by Qian Wang (Texas A&M University School of Dentistry) and Martin Zhao (Mercer University)

This workshop provides hands-on experience in using “CSViewer for Analysts” to assess growth, health and pathology of the Cayo Santiago Rhesus colony through contextualized visualizations. Registration required.

Workshop: How to use B3GET: simulating your favorite primate in a virtual 2D environment

Wednesday, March 20th, 1:00-4:00 pm

Organized by Kristy Crouse (University of Minnesota)

Learn how to use the agent-based model B3GET and walk through the process creating virtual plant environments and simulating a primate species of your choosing.

COD-WIN Workshop: Negotiating Change in Professional Settings: A Workshop and Mentoring Opportunity for all Women AABA Attendees

Wednesday, March 20th, 2:00-5:00 pm

AABA COD-WIN workshop organized Michelle Bezanson (Santa Clara University) and Anne C. Stone (Arizona State University)

All life evolves and careers do too. This workshop is a mentoring-style opportunity for AABA women of all ranks to learn how to identify opportunities for change, negotiate position and pay, make major transitions, and build networks of support. Registration required.

Workshop: Publishing in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology: Advice for Forensic Anthropologists and Bioarchaeologists

Wednesday, March 20th, 3:00-4:30 pm

AABA Publications Committee, organized by Tracy Prowse (McMaster University), Daniel Temple (George Mason University), Trudy Turner (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

Participants will learn about the criteria used to assess forensic and bioarchaeological manuscripts submitted to the AJBA for publication, including a discussion of successful publications. Registration required.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

Workshop: Anthropology Unleashed: Navigating Public Outreach in the World of Insta(ntaneous) Gratification

Thursday, March 21st, 12:15-2:15 pm

Organized by Sarah Reedy (University of Massachusetts, Amherst), Kelli Tamvada (Russell Sage College), Amanda Spriggs (State University of New York, Albany)

In the age of instant gratification and misinformation, this workshop will facilitate conversations on how anthropologists can promote public outreach and engagement.

AABA Art, Culture and Science Engagement Exhibition

Thursday, March 21st, 12:15 – 2:15 pm

Organized by AABA Education Committee, Michelle Bezanson (Santa Clara University) and Robert O’Malley (Harvard Medical School)

All AABA members attending the 2024 meeting are invited to submit entries for the inaugural AABA Art, Culture and Science Engagement Exhibition! Building on the success of the 2023 AABA “Un-presentation” symposium and a history of film screenings, musical performances, and other cultural experiences at past AABA meetings, this will be an exhibition for AABA members to share their passions for art, crafts, and performance as well as biological anthropology. We hope to include original photography, paintings, drawings, infographics, sculpture, or other media, short films or video, storytelling, poetry, musical performances, stand-up comedy, and interactive informal education or engagement activities. Participation is open to all AABA members attending the meeting in-person. Attendees are welcome to submit and/or participate in the exhibition whether or not they have another presentation or workshop session at the AABA meeting. Please see the submission form for details, and contact Education Committee co-chair Rob O’Malley (romalley@pged.med.harvard.edu) with any questions. Registration required.

Workshop: Departmental leadership and data: a discussion about trends in enrollment for current, past, and future departmental chairs

Thursday, March 21st, 12:15-2:15 pm

Organized by Amy Rector (Virginia Commonwealth University)

All current, former, and future leaders of anthropology and related departments are invited to join this discussion and collaboration for a data-driven investigation of trends in undergraduate enrollment. Registration required.

Workshop: Improv for Anthropologists: Building Teaching and Outreach Skills with Applied Improv

Thursday, March 21st, 7:00-9:00 pm

Organized by Amanda L. Ellwanger (Georgia State University- Perimeter College), Marc Kissel (Appalachian State University), Natalia Reagan, Kimberly Congdon (Evolent Health)

In this workshop, participants will use applied improv to develop skills that build confidence and engagement for teaching and public outreach. Registration required.

Workshop: Microchimerism and human health: Bridging the gaps between anthropology and medicine

Thursday, March 21st, 12:15-2:15 pm

Organized by Amy Boddy (University of California Santa Barbara), Kristine Chua (University of California Santa Barbara)

This workshop will address ethical considerations when conducting microchimerism research and discuss strategies to implement these perspectives within the medical setting. Registration required.

Workshop: Postdoc and Academic Job Hunting – Everything you need to know

Thursday, March 21st, 12:15-2:15 pm

Organized by Anna Ragni (University of Tampa)

Targeted toward senior graduate students and early postdocs, this workshop will review the expectations, materials, and strategies for succeeding in today’s academic job market.

Workshop: Up Goer Five: Communicating Biological Anthropology Using English’s Ten Hundred Most Common Words

Thursday, March 21st, 4:30-6:30 pm *note day/time change

Organized by C. Kinley Russell (The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) and Briana Pobiner (Smithsonian Museum of Natural History)

Biological Anthropology as a discipline is becoming increasingly jargon dense. Engaging with other scientists outside our subfields, funding agencies, and other members of the public requires that we identify when complex language is hampering our attempts to connect with others about our research. The Up Goer Five Challenge takes this effort to the extreme. In this workshop, we will discuss the elements of effective science communication, review the Up Goer Five Challenge framework, and apply this framework to research in biological anthropology. Speakers in this workshop have all agreed to present 5-minute talks about their work using only the thousand most commonly used words in the English language. These presentations will be followed by a moderated discussion of the ways that language choice impacts the messages that we convey about and audiences that we engage with Biological Anthropology research. After observing Up Goer talks given by participants in last year’s workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to apply the Up Goer framework to their own research. Participants will analyze the language they use to describe their own work and will leave with the tools to communicate the importance of their research in more accessible ways.