BAHID and BAFA

I'm feeling virtuous, and maybe a little hard-done-by today, as I am giving up my hard-earned weekend to attend the British Association of Human Identification conference in Manchester. I usually enjoy these events, but I just wish they weren't scheduled for the weekend. It's a chance to meet up with old friends and make new ones, in a slightly down-at-heel university conference centre. I will also be attending the second meeting of the British Association of Forensic Anthropology, where I am on the Academic Committee. I will also be attending a workshop on Disaster Victim Identification, which is set to be interesting and informative, but I'm not expecting a laugh a minute. Think of me, will you, stuck in a stuffy room with about 200 other anthropologists, while you're enjoying the crisp autumn sunshine this Sunday?

Anthro...what?

Today, I meet the new intake of MSc students for the first time, as I am about to give my first lecture of the year: Introduction to Anthropology. I really enjoy giving this lecture, as it is the least serious and most frivolous of the year...we talk quite a lot about chimpanzees, sex, gender issues, and inbreeding...it's a laugh! We also discuss concepts like 'what makes us human?', which always gets a few giggles and ruffles a few feathers.
Hopefully, it breaks the ice and gets them thinking.