Relevance, Education, and the Future

Abstract

While not covering every aspect of bioarchaeology, this chapter presents a broad overview of the possibilities within the field for answering important questions about the human condition, for engaging with people outside of academia, for developing an ethos (and set of ethical protocols) that are not shaped solely by laws and public perceptions, and for inviting students and others to take bioarchaeological approaches into new areas with innovation and creativity. The relevance of bioarchaeology is demonstrated with examples of its potential to infuse college curricula and teaching with innovation in pedagogy and hands-on experiences for students. Examples are provided of the large number of examples of employment opportunities for bioarchaeologists and for the kinds of research projects based on human remains that are being carried out by bioarchaeologists in the United States.