Interview with Thayer Scudder, May 21, 2003

Interview Summary

Scudder was the 1999 Bronislaw Malinowski awardee. He is now retired from the California Institute of Technology. He is best known for his research on the impact of dam construction. In the interview, Scudder and Cliggett discuss the difference between consultancy and advising within an organization in great detail. Scudder provides commentary on his experience in working on various projects conducted by the World Bank. Scudder emphasizes the importance of working with professionals within the country you are working and discusses the difference between applied anthropology and his preferred term of development anthropology as well as the topic of academic vs. applied anthropology. Scudder details his experience in working with Elizabeth Colson in Africa and the impact/influence the experience had on his professional career.

Interview Keyword

Anthropologists Anthropology Professional organizations Society for Applied Anthropology Advice Development anthropology Poverty alleviation

Interview LC Subject

Society for Applied Anthropology Applied anthropology Anthropology World Bank

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.