Southwestern College students who want to get a taste of graduate school get to sample a full menu in the Anthropology Club. No GRE is required.
Ancient human skeletons, the origin of language and genital mutilation are some of the topics club members are exploring in a rigorous, intellectual manner of a research university. Advisor
Dr. Maria Jelaca-Tavakoli is working to instill “the beauties of research” in students.
“A lot of students don’t get these types of opportunities unless they’re in graduate school,” she said. “We’re not talking undergraduate, we’re not talking community college kids, we are talking at least three years up.”
Eager students get a glimpse into the professional field of anthropology, with a strong emphasis on adhering to the extensive standards of published researchers. Workshops will let students perform hands-on experimentations similar to those seen on professional excavations.
Members can get into the sort of work that gets them noticed. In Spring 2012 student Alina Bilal presented alongside Jelaca-Tavakoli at the American Association of Anatomists’ convention in San Diego. Her work was presented in experimental biology alongside academics from around the country. Bilal is now preparing to publish her research in the American Association of Anatomists journal.
On May 14 members will present their studies to the campus at an open-air science fair outside Mayan Hall. Professional grade posters with outline research topics from the anthropological fields of culture, biology, archeology and linguistics.
Each deceptively simple research poster can take hours of research and effort. Bilal’s work took more than 40 hours to compile. Tavakoli’s poster was the culmination of 500-plus hours.
Isaiah Ledonne, Vice-President of the Anthropology Club, said he will focus his research on genetic phenotype traits of Southwestern College students.
“What I’m going to be doing is researching within the college campus and seeing if there’s a genetic trait that’s more prominent or where it comes from or how it came that way or why this trait is more prominent,” he said.
Priscilla Silva, a member of the Anthropology Club, said that she wants to investigate the definition of beauty across cultures.
“I want to research the parts of the human body that are considered beautiful in the Latino culture,” she said. “Also I want to look into cultures that consider obesity beautiful. I want to focus on beauty in different parts of the world.”
Xayn Nazerally, a transgender member of the Club, focuses on gender identity, a deeply personal subject.
“People view us very differently, and I want to break down those barriers,” said Nazerally. “But I also want to get an understanding of how people can move forward, and how people can change and better their lives. If I can change at least one life with my research, then I’m satisfied.”