“Anthropology is the most scientific of the humanities, and the most humanistic of the sciences.”
- Marshall Sahlins
Welcome to the
International Anthropology Olympiad
Through comprehensive essays and an online debate, the International Anthropology Olympiad is the premier competition for students who wish to study what it means to be human.
High school students worldwide are invited to explore:
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Cultures
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History
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Archeology
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Society
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Complexities of human life
As a participant you will analyze and answer thought-provoking questions and make your mark in one of the most important disciplines in the humanities.
Essays and the debate will evaluate your ability to:
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Present a clear argument
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Display your depth of Insight
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Perform quality research
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Analyze and interpret nuances
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Critically think
Join the elite group of students competing for prizes, recognition, and the opportunity to showcase intellectual scholarship on an international stage.
Essays are to be submitted via a Typeform link and the debate will take place online as well.
How does it work?
The Anthropology Olympiad is an individual competition divided into two stages where students analyze key topics in cultural, biological, linguistic, and archaeological anthropology.
Regional Round:
Write an analytical essay answering one of three anthropology questions provided on the competition launch date.
On the start date (see our timeline for details), participants will be sent the round one question(s) via email which we will also post on our website.
Students will have 7 days to submit a written response in essay format (1000-word limit — see Guidelines and Rules for more information). Essays will be submitted via a secure Typeform link.
International Round:
Finalists from each region will be invited to participate in an online anthropological debate, in which they will respond to a a hotly debated anthropology question with other finalists.
Participants will be sent the subjects of debate 7 days before prior and will be assigned a “for” or “against” position on the day of the debate. See our Guidelines and Rules page for more details.
This competition is fully online and for individual participants.
Step 2
Receive the questions and submit your response by the deadline.
Step 3
Submissions will be reviewed by our panel of anthropologists, professors, and scholars.
Step 4
Top finalists in each region will advance to the International Round.
Step 5
Winners of the International Anthropology Olympiad will be announced and featured on our website.
Why You Should Participate
Expert Judges
Prizes
Stand Out
All submissions are reviewed by leading anthropologists, researchers, and university faculty.
International finalists will receive global recognition, publication on our website, letters of recommendation, and college consulting credit.
Demonstrate your academic initiative, show admissions your participation and even victory a major advantage in competitive college applications.
General Timeline
See our Timeline page for more a more detailed schedule.
June
Registration
July
Olympiad Begins
August
Finalists Announced
Register for the Anthropology Olympiad
"The Anthropology Olympiad invites students to engage with real-world questions about identity, society, and humanity itself — skills that matter deeply in our universities and in our world.”
— Ria Jagasia, Former Johns Hopkins Admissions Officer
Judges Panel
Dr. Rachel Linwood
PhD, Anthropology – University of California, Berkeley
PhD Minor, Linguistics – University of California, Berkeley
MA, Social Anthropology – University of Chicago
BA, Anthropology – Harvard University
Dr. Rachel Linwood is a professor of anthropology whose research integrates cultural theory, ethnographic practice, and historical analysis, with specializations in identity, kinship, and postcolonial societies. Dr. Linwood currently serves as Chair of the Anthropology Department at the University of Michigan and lectures annually at Yale University. She has authored over 65 peer-reviewed publications and led numerous international research initiatives on cultural memory, indigeneity, and the politics of representation.
Our judging panel includes scholars and faculty with deep expertise across all subfields of anthropology. From fieldwork to theory to research, their collective knowledge ensures rigorous, thoughtful evaluation of each submission.
Testimonials
"The Olympiad pushed me to think differently about culture. It completely changed the way I saw my own life and background."
— Amira Nelson
“I entered thinking anthropology was a niche topic, but I left realizing it touches everything: politics, history, language, identity.”
— Sean Lieberman
“It gave me a real edge applying to international relations and sociology programs. I could speak with confidence about cultural analysis and universities noticed.”
— Gabriella Moreno