Call for Submissions: 2023 MES Student Paper Prize!

The Middle East Section of the American Anthropological Association invites submissions for our Student Paper Prize. Both undergraduate and graduate students (who have not defended at time of submission) are eligible. The winner will receive a prize of $500, plus a chance to summarize the award-winning paper at the 2023 AAA meeting in Toronto and in Anthropology News, a publication of the AAA that goes to all members of the association. Papers should be no longer than 10,000 words (not including notes and bibliography) and must have been completed no earlier than January 1, 2022. Chapters from a thesis are welcome and should be able to stand alone (and can be revised to do so). Papers should not be published or accepted for publication. The paper should include a cover page with the name of the professor and class for which the paper was written (if applicable) and email addresses for both the student and professor. 

Student paper award submissions should be emailed to the committee chair, Dr Kali Rubaii (kali.rubaii@gmail.com). The subject line must say “MES Student Prize.” 

The deadline is August 30, 2023.

Call for submissions for MES’ photo contest!

The Middle East Section (MES) of the AAA is having a photo contest to celebrate our vantages on the MENA region and to support our website!

Photographs should speak broadly to the idea of “Transitions,” the theme of the 2023 AAA conference.

Each submission can include up to 5 photos each with a caption (50-100 words) that explains the date, location, context, and the process through which the photograph was taken. Photos may be submitted as stand-alone images or a short image series meant to be viewed together (please specify). Submissions should be in jpg or tiff.

We encourage submissions from anthropologists and anthropologists-in-the-making, especially from the MENA region. Each person is limited to one submission of five photographs. We ask that those submitting be members of the Middle East Section, except for students, non-tenure track faculty or scholars in the Global South if membership imposes a significant hardship.

The winners will each receive a modest cash prize ($100). Their photos will be used on the website and social media and will be credited each time they are used.

Please make your submission here by Thursday, August 31st: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSciok_9JNet4CzQyCFdtS0DIk4TmJD75kJ_1uEM3hNVFVo2bQ/viewform

MES Statement on the Desecration of the Remains of the Children of MOVE and the Africa Family

The Middle East Section of the American Anthropological Association strongly condemns the desecration of MOVE victims’ remains and unequivocally endorses the statement and list of demands issued by the Association of Black Anthropologists (ABA), the Society of Black Archaeologists (SBA), and the Black in Bioanthropology Collective (BiBA). MES recognizes the deep legacy of racism in our discipline and our shared responsibility to address historic and contemporary wrongs and work towards more ethical practices. The desecration of the MOVE victims’ remains displays the perniciousness of racist thought that erases the humanity of racialized communities and treats their remains as objects rather than as the bodies of humans who deserve equal respect, in life and in death.

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Call for Nominations for the 2021 MES Student Paper Award

The Middle East Section requests submissions for our Student Paper Award. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible. The winner will receive a prize of $500, plus a chance to summarize the award winning paper in AN (Anthropology News, a publication of the AAA that goes to all members of the association) and at the 2021 AAA meeting in Baltimore.

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Call for Nominations: The 2021 MES Book Award

The Middle East Section is accepting nominations for its bi-annual book award. This award is given to an anthropological work (single- or multi-authored, but not edited volumes) that speaks to issues in ways that hold relevance beyond our subfield. Criteria may include: innovative approaches, theoretical sophistication, and topical originality.

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Call for Nominations for the 2019 MES Book Award

The Middle East Section is now accepting nominations for its biennial book award. This award is given to an anthropological work (single- or multi-authored, but not edited volumes) that speaks to issues in a way that holds relevance beyond our subfield. Criteria may include: innovative approaches, theoretical sophistication, and topical originality.

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Extended Deadline! Now July 1. Call for Nominations for the 2018 MES Distinguished Scholar Award

MES Distinguished Scholar Award

The Middle East Section requests nominations for its bi-annual distinguished scholar award. This award is for a senior scholar in Middle Eastern anthropology who is an outstanding academic in terms of scholarly publications and service to Middle Eastern anthropology, including mentorship and interventions in public debates. An award of $500 will be offered to the winner.

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