Maryann R. Cairns
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
Anthropology
| Office Location |
Heroy Hall 402 |
| Phone |
214-768-2927 |
| Website |
Education
Ph.D. University of South Florida, 2014Bio
Maryann R. Cairns is an applied environmental anthropologist whose scholarship explores environmental degradation, waste, sustainability, and natural and cultural heritage. As director of the Cairns Lab at SMU, she has led a variety of collaborative research projects, looking at issues like sustainability in fashion, wastewater management, and COVID-19 and loneliness. Her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Fulbright Scholar Program. Her publications have appeared in various journals, including Water Research, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science and Technology: Water, and Human Organization.
Cairn is also the recipient of various awards for her teaching and mentorship. These include the SMU Rotunda Outstanding Professor Award, the Extra Mile Award, and President’s Associates Outstanding Faculty Award.
Water • Waste • Toxicity • Sustainability • Natural and Cultural HeritageResearch Interests
Courses Taught
Introductory Cultural Anthropology • Human Ecology • Introduction to Ethnographic Methods • Toxic Topics: Anthropology, Environment, and Health • Build It, Hack It, Fix It • Advanced Research Methods
