The local society of the AIA  is sponsoring an International Archaeology Day event, "Cultural Heritage: Why Do We Care?"  It will take place at the University of Maryland's Nyumburu Cultural Center (Room 0130).

We will begin with brief statements from a panel of professionals in the field, including Justine Benanty (Co-Founder of "The ArchaeoVenturers Project"), Alex Nagel (Research Associate, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution), Katie A. Paul (Director of Programs and Conflict Heritage Researcher, The George Washington University) and Matthew Suriano (Assistant Professor of New Eastern Languages and Cultures, University of Maryland).

After brief statements from the panelists, the participants will be divided into mixed groups with facilitators and will be asked to discuss several topics such as: 1) financing of terrorist organizations through sales of artifacts; 2) constructions of the past that exclude and disenfranchise minority populations; 3) ways to preserve the past that benefit present communities; 4) how cultural heritage is used and abused in present politics; and 5) why students of politics and international and foreign affairs should know about and understand the meaning of cultural heritage to peoples in other countries.

At the conclusion of the discussion, there will be free pizza and soft drinks for all!

The event is free, but in order to get a proper head count, we ask that participants register online.  For more information, and to register for the event, please see 

http://www.dcaia.org/iaday