Print

The Discover Anthropology website is operated by the Royal Anthropological Institute’s Education Outreach Programme. The main aim of the website is to encourage a wider appreciation and understanding of anthropology by functioning as a hub for communication, gathering information, accessing events, activities and resources, for those interested in learning more about the subject.

Discover Anthropology provides general information for those who are new to the subject as well as particular guidance on subdisciplines within anthropology, postgraduate degree programmes, and on teaching the subject in pre-university education.

The website brings together a wide range of resources: career profiles, student case studies, historical images, films, teaching plans, external research sites, volunteer and gap year opportunities, events and activities, as well as appropriate internet links and web resources.

 

The Royal Anthropological Institute’s Education Outreach Programme

The Royal Anthropological Institute’s Education programme has been set up to develop actions and strategies to inform teachers and young people about anthropology as a university subject, and to bring the subject more generally into pre-university education. Anthropology, the study of what it means to be human across different societies, cultures and histories, is currently taught in only a few schools and colleges in the UK. Compared to other social sciences, anthropology undergraduate degrees attract fewer students from widening participation target groups. Yet the discipline of anthropology has a distinctive, and vital, contribution to make to understanding the world today. Anthropology offers a deep understanding of what we share in common as a species, how different societies work, how people live, their beliefs, customs, ideas, prejudices and aspirations. In an era when global understanding and recognition of diverse ways of seeing the world are of critical social, political and economic importance, anthropology has a central role to play in education.


The Discover Anthropology education programme aims: 1) to provide good quality, accessible information for students considering studying anthropology at university 2) to create a series of regular events and activities for young people and teachers and 3) to produce resources for teachers that draw upon the insights of anthropology. From 2005-2006 the programme was funded through the AimHigher National Activity programme. From 2007-2010 the programme will be funded by the Economics and Social Research Council. Academic support and supervision is provided by the RAi through its Education Committee, whose members give their services on a voluntary basis.

 

The Royal Anthropological Institute

The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland (RAI) is the world's longest-established scholarly association dedicated to the furtherance of anthropology (the study of humankind) in its broadest and most inclusive sense. The Institute is a non-profit-making registered charity and is entirely independent, with a Director and a small staff accountable to the Council, which in turn is elected annually from the Fellowship. It has a Royal Patron in the person of HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG, GCVO.

The Royal Anthropological Institute seeks to combine a distinguished tradition of scholarship stretching back over more than 150 years with the active provision of services to contemporary anthropology and anthropologists, including students of anthropology. It has a particular commitment to promoting the public understanding of anthropology, and the contribution of anthropology to public affairs. It publishes journals, has a privileged link with the Anthropology Library (British Museum), has a film and video library and an extensive photographic collection, gives awards for outstanding scholarship, organises lectures and meetings, and manages a number of trust funds for research. The journals circulate throughout the world, and about 70% of subscriptions revenue comes from outside the UK. Other specialist interests are represented through committees.

 

RAI Contact Details

Royal Anthropological Institute
50 Fitzroy Street
London
W1T 5BT
United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7387 0455
Fax: +44 (0)20 7388 8817
Email:  Office Manager (hyperlink This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
http:/www.therai.org.uk


The RAI office occupies the first, ground and lower ground floors of a building just around the corner from Warren Street, North of Fitzroy Square.  It is next door to French's Theatre Bookshop. 

View map

Nearest underground stations: Warren Street (Victoria and Northern Lines), or mid-way between Great Portland Street and Euston Square (both Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines). 

Nearest railway station: Euston Station

The RAI is within walking distance of several London University Colleges, including University College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies. Visitors are welcome, but please make a prior appointment if possible.