Flordeliz T. Bugarin

The Global Initiatives Grant will help establish an anthropology program in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at Howard University, an HBCU in Washington, D.C. This initiative aligns with the college’s goals of producing global leaders, fostering cultural understanding, and advocating for forward-thinking programs incorporating artificial intelligence (AI). Grant funds will support crafting a proposal for a five-field anthropology curriculum (including applied anthropology and the four traditional sub-fields) integrating AI, 3D modeling, virtual reality, drone and satellite technologies, and African and African Diasporan studies. Central to the program is a social justice framework aimed at decolonizing scholarship, dismantling structural racism, addressing sexism, and combating intersectional biases. Students will engage in experiential, sensorial, and tactile learning opportunities locally and globally in the field, lab, and classroom. They will develop critical thinking skills, craft nuanced explanations of culture and human behavior, address problems such as poverty and climate change, and have ample research opportunities. This program promises to inspire Africans and African descendants to pursue careers in anthropology, fostering inclusivity. By integrating intelligent technologies, it furthers the mission to advance anthropological knowledge and amplify its impact. It will also encourage students from other disciplines to integrate anthropology and cultural understanding into their careers.