BOAS SEMINARS - DECLARATION

The Boas Seminar is the flagship lecture series of the Department of Anthropology at Columbia. Named for the department’s founder, the Seminar expresses the legacy that we choose to inherit from the forebear of our discipline, with due acknowledgment of its colonial entanglements. That chosen inheritance is one of rigorous scholarship, devoted pedagogy, free and open inquiry, and a commitment to social justice. As part of our commitment to and defense of these values, we will continue to host this lecture series on campus. By doing so, we aim to enact the core mission of a research university: of learning, independent thought, and the pursuit of understanding. As in the past, we look forward to welcoming established as well as emerging scholars to share their research and ideas. In these especially troubling times, when critical speech and scholarly engagement are under threat across the country, we believe that it is important to gather in spaces such as these to continue the work to which we have committed ourselves. Please check the department website for program details. Unless stated otherwise, lectures are held on designated Wednesdays, 2:10-4:00pm, in room 457 Schermerhorn Extension. We regret that, as of September 2025, access to campus for non-CUID holders must be arranged at least 24 hours in advance. To do so, please contact Jeanne Roche at: [email protected].

Information about individual lectures in this series can be found on the main events page of the website.