Public Anthropology Conference 2025
November 7-8, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Public Knowing,
Public Change
A project of the Department of Anthropology at American University
Dates:
Friday, November 7, 2025
Saturday, November 8, 2025
Venue:
Martin Luther King Jr.
Memorial Library
Washington, D.C.
PAC 2025: Public Knowing, Public Change
In a historical moment defined and structured by interconnected challenges – social inequality, environmental degradation, labor precarity, political violence, repression, and more – developing a rigorous and shared understanding of these issues is central to building towards a more equitable future. This deep comprehension can only come by honoring and nurturing a wide range of knowledge, skills, and experiences.
In this year’s conference, participants will cultivate and expand a collective analysis of this political juncture and will do so through a variety of forms and techniques: multi-directional, collaborative, embodied, and more. Participants will highlight global and national issues, while also prioritizing D.C. and the region. We welcome submissions of all kinds and are particularly interested in applications which:
Disseminate academic research which can inform broader efforts
Draw from public or grassroots scholarship
Share outcomes and reflections from community-based participatory research projects
Teach methods, frameworks, or practices that can be utilized inside or outside of the academy
Create multi-sensorial, artistic, or interactive sessions
Want updates on conference offerings, deadline reminders, and more?
How we are working to provide material structure for Public Knowing, Public Change
Registration is free and open-to-the-public
Conference is hosted in a public space with extensive access to multiple forms of transportation
Transportation support funding is available for all participants
We will have an equal number of traditional and non-traditional sessions.
Conference materials will be available post-conference in an open digital repository.
While not yet confirmed, we are also working to provide:
Complimentary lunch
Translation services
Hybrid formats, particularly for keynotes
Want to help us fully achieve this vision?
Become a PAC 2025 donor or co-sponsor. Click here to see more details.
Thank you to our funders!
PAC 2025 and related programs are funded, in part, by the National Science Foundation Accelerating Research Translation program under the Translating Research Into Action Center (TRAC) award #2331399.