This year's intern will work with Dr. Shannon Tushingham
stushingham@calacademy.org
Dr. Shannon Tushingham is the Associate Curator and Irvine Chair of Anthropology in the Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Science. She is an anthropological archaeologist with research broadly centered on understanding human autonomy, health, and well-being, and global understandings of the past. She employs archaeological science, historical ecology, and evolutionary model frameworks to explore deep time-scale human-environmental relationships, and complex food systems among hunter-gatherer-fishers. Current projects center on niche construction dynamics, storage diversity, ancestral food systems and modern health, the evolution of psychoactive plant use, and equity and multivocality in STEM.
2024 Illustration project
This summer the intern will develop a community-engaged illustration project that captures cultural connections with the natural world. Interns will contribute to a collaborative research project and participate in a co-creative process with indigenous communities that explores how scientific illustrations may intersect and depict Traditional Ecological Knowledge and other ways of knowing. Potential projects may involve visual narratives of cultural practices and connections with the natural environment (past and present), illustrations of cultural keystone species, or other creative products that illuminate and celebrate the symbiotic relationship between culture and nature. With their mentor, interns will seek input and guidance from community elders, leaders, or knowledge keepers to ensure authenticity and respect for their cultural representations. Interns should have an interest in promoting cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of diverse perspectives on nature and utilizing artistic skills to create evocative and culturally sensitive illustrations. Interns will explore the power of visual media as a means of inspiring dialogue and awareness of ecocultural heritage appreciation for marginalized or underrepresented communities to share their wisdom and cultural heritage.