AI.Climate Change.Political Division.Public Health.What Can Anthropology Teach Us About the Future?

ARLINGTON, Va. - EntSun -- As artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace, climate change transforms communities, misinformation erodes public trust and societies navigate rapid cultural and technological change, one question has never been more important: How do we better understand people?

Anthropologists from around the world will gather at America's Center Convention Complex  in St. Louis Nov. 18-22 for the American Anthropological Association's 2026 Annual Meeting. Centered on this year's theme, "On the Verge," the meeting explores what it means to live through a period of profound transition and how anthropology helps us understand the choices individuals, communities, and institutions face at moments of change. The conference will bring together researchers, educators, students, museum professionals, policymakers and practitioners to examine one of humanity's defining moments.

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Anthropology helps explain how people think, adapt, collaborate and respond to change. Its insights shape public health campaigns, improve artificial intelligence, preserve cultural heritage, inform education, guide business strategy, strengthen communities, and influence public policy. In an increasingly interconnected world, anthropology provides the human perspective needed to address society's most complex challenges.

"We're living through a moment when technology is changing the world, but people determine what that change means," said Ady Arguelles-Sabatier, CEO and Executive Director of the American Anthropological Association. "The questions we're facing aren't only technical. They're deeply human. Anthropology helps us understand how people respond to change, what communities need to thrive, and how we make better decisions together. Our Annual Meeting brings together thousands of people doing that work, creating the conversations and collaborations that help us better understand the world and each other."

Over five days, attendees will exchange groundbreaking research, debate emerging ideas, forge interdisciplinary partnerships and explore issues ranging from migration and Indigenous sovereignty to environmental resilience, technological innovation and the future of human society. Whether they work in universities, museums, healthcare systems, nonprofit organizations, government agencies or the private sector, attendees will learn from experts whose work is shaping the future of anthropology and, increasingly, the future of society.

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More than a conference, the Annual Meeting is where careers are launched, research collaborations take shape and lifelong professional relationships begin. It is a rare opportunity to engage with the largest and most diverse community of anthropologists in the world, all in one place.

Among this year's speakers is Agustín Fuentes, a Princeton University anthropologist, bestselling author and renowned scholar whose work bridges anthropology, biology and psychology.

At a time when understanding people has never been more important, the American Anthropological Association invites scholars, practitioners, students and lifelong learners alike to join the conversations helping shape what's next. Learn more at www.americananthro.org.