The following are projects by the Center for Applied Anthropology (CfAA) at ÁÔÓ¥ÌåÓýÖ±²¥ (ÁÔÓ¥ÌåÓýÖ±²¥).
This project, in collaboration with the Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at ÁÔÓ¥ÌåÓýÖ±²¥, is to discover the shared cultural model of social distancing among ÁÔÓ¥ÌåÓýÖ±²¥ students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. More specifically, both the students' ideas about the places that they spent their time as well as the activities that they did in those places will be collected and analyzed to discover if they are shared among ÁÔÓ¥ÌåÓýÖ±²¥ students. The first phase of this project occured during the fall 2021 semester with approximately 40 students from ANT 275 Language & Culture and ANT 342 Quantitative Methods in Anthropology, the second phase during the fall 2022 semester with approximately 35 students from ANT 275 Language & Culture.
In Spring 2021, Professor Lott and students in Applied Anthropology (ANT 325) partnered with the to collect community feedback on a plan for eco-friendly improvements to Bernadette Watkins Park in the west side of Newport, Kentucky. Our primary method of data collection was an electronic survey (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), and we worked and the to deepen our understanding of the community and to reach community members. The survey asked participants to give feedback on a student-produced
diagram of the proposed changes to the park as well as how they use parks and what they would like to see in parks in the future.
Based on our analysis of community feedback (see report linked below), a bioswale and trees were installed in the park. The trees provide a barrier between the park and a busy road; the bioswale filters rain water and directs runoff to a storm drain, to help reduce street flooding. In Summer 2022, Professor Lott collaborated with the Scrips-Howard Center to plan a celebration in the park for community residents. Professor Lott and 3 former ÁÔÓ¥ÌåÓýÖ±²¥ anthropology students attended the event to educate community members about the bioswale in their park. Community volunteers pitched in to reinforce the bioswale, as well. The bioswale demonstration is available here: .
The data from this project has produced a report for the City of Newport about resident feedback on the eco-friendly park plan. Another report discussing what residents of Newport want to see in parks is in preparation.
Lott, Jessica. 2021. "First Report of the Bernadette Watkins Park Feedba
