Format: Moderated Round Table Discussion with Invited Speakers
Organisers:
Bettina Schulz Paulsson, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, bettina.schulz.paulsson@gu.se
Alexander Herrera, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia, alherrer@uniandes.edu.co
In an era of profound ethical dilemmas, driven by advancing geo- and climate-political changes that promise to bring even greater challenges, we, as an archaeological community, must confront our expanding scientific and societal responsibilities.
WAC´s core ethical values of socially responsible archaeological practice are now under attack by increasing nationalism and polarisation, normalisation of extremism, geopolitical conflict, and militarism at a global scale. There is an urgent need to revitalise the CoE to support stronger engagement with the ethical dimensions of archaeological practice.
WAC´s Standing Committee on Ethics (CoE) upholds WAC’s mission as a global network connecting archaeologists and those affected by archaeological practices, policies, and ideas. This session aims to revitalise the CoE and take the lead in initiating critical discussions and asserting ethical positioning, both within WAC and our discipline, while also engaging in the wider public discourse.
To fulfill this role effectively, the Roundtable aims to engage in the following discussions:
1. What are the core responsibilities and mandates of the Ethics Committee? How can we actively involve and engage the WAC community?
2. How best should we present ourselves publicly? How can we effectively communicate our ethical discourse beyond WAC?
3. How and to what extent should we collaborate with external organisations?