Jerry Jacka, Assistant Professor, is an environmental anthropologist whose research and teaching explore the intersections among development, religion, the environment, and globalization. His publications on the Ipili and Enga of highlands Papua New Guinea examine the cultural and environmental implications of gold mining and Christianity on these societies. He is working on a book manuscript entitled, “Alchemy in the Rainforest: Development, Religion, and the Environment in Highlands Papua New Guinea.” Dr. Jacka has also started recent research projects in Uganda on religious change and environmental management and in Ghana on the socioeconomics of peanut farming.
Education:
~ Ph.D. in Anthropology, University of Oregon
~ M.A. in Anthropology, University of Alaska - Fairbanks
~ B.A. in Anthropology and Linguistics, University of Washington
Research Interests:
~ Cultures of Papua New Guinea and Oceania
~ Environmental Anthropology
~ Political Ecology
~ Religion and Environment
~ Indigenous Rights
