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• Workshops and Other Events at the 88th Annual AAPA meeting in Cleveland, Ohio
• Repatriation in the Digital Age: What can we learn about the ethics of collecting, curating, and using digital representations of the human body?

Repatriation in the Digital Age: What can we learn about the ethics of collecting, curating, and using digital representations of the human body?

To register for this workshop click here. The registration deadline is March 15, 2019.

Repatriation in the Digital Age: What can we learn about the ethics of collecting, curating, and using digital representations of the human body? Day/Time: Wed, March 27, 1PM-5PM; Description: A workshop that will approach the ethics of digital data through the lens of repatriation, and discuss the ethical considerations related to collecting and working with digital representations of human bodies Organizers: Cara Hirst, UCL (cara.hirst.13@ucl.ac.uk); Alyssa Bader, University of Illinois (acbader2@illinois.edu). Sponsor: AAPA Ethics Committee. Pre-registration Required

Description: Recently, the collection and availability of 2D and 3D digital representations of human bodies has increased exponentially. Photographs are collected for research and collections management, and 3D imaging and printing technologies are increasingly accessible. Thus, virtual collections of human bodies, that can be rapidly shared and utilized for a wide variety of purposes, are expanding. It is necessary to consider the ethics surrounding the collection, use, and curation of this digital data.

This workshop will approach the ethics of digital data through the lens of repatriation. While there has been increased attention to the repatriation of physical remains, less attention has been paid to digital representations of these bodies. Do the ethical considerations surrounding the collection, curation, and use of digital representations of human bodies differ from those of physical bodies? By examining how digital data fits into the broader practice of repatriation, we can illuminate ethical considerations which apply more broadly to biological anthropologists collecting, curating, or utilizing digital representations of both living and deceased individuals.

The first section of this workshop will draw on a variety of experts in repatriating or curating various forms of digital data to present case studies. Participants will be guided in critically evaluating the ethical considerations specific to each scenario. In the second half of the workshop, participants will work in small groups to apply the approaches learned as they examine the ways 2D and 3D digital data are utilized in their own research areas. By the end of the workshop, participants will have learned about the ethical considerations related to collecting and working with digital representations of human bodies, and be able to critically evaluate the ethical use of digital data in their own research. The proceedings will then be utilized in the construction of ethical guidelines by the AAPA Ethics Committee.

Audience: This workshop will be of interest to individuals who collect, curate, or otherwise interact with 2D or 3D representations of human bodies, especially those who work in repatriation, individuals from communities and organizations that request repatriation.