Profile
Abstract
Thiago Pinto Barbosa is an anthropologist based at Leipzig University. Thiago is interested in questions of science and power, especially in relation to categorizations of difference and social inequalities as well as environmental conflicts and sustainability. Thiago studied anthropology and other social sciences in Brazil and Germany and obtained a PhD at the University of Bayreuth. In Bayreuth, Thiago is also a member of the research group Anthropology of Global Inequalities. In Berlin, Thiago initiated a memorial project on the history of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Anthropology, Human Genetics, and Eugenics. Born out of this project, Thiago’s dissertation analyzed how Indian scientists adapted and challenged racializing theories and methods from Germany. Thiago held several academic positions, including at Leibniz-ZMO, RIFS Potsdam, PIK Potsdam, University of Göttingen, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Professional career
- 04/2023 - 03/2024
Lecturer University of Göttingen, Social and Cultural Anthropology - 08/2022 - 08/2023
Lecturer at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Dept. of Social and Cultural Anthropology - 09/2019 - 04/2021
Research Associate and lecturer at the University of Bayreuth - 01/2017 - 08/2019
Research Fellow at the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) - 04/2016 - 08/2018
Research Associate at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) Potsdam (today RIFS) - since 07/2013
Coordinator of the memorial project “Manufacturing race - contemporary memories of building's colonial past” - 03/2010 - 08/2011
Research fellow at the João Pinheiro Foundation - 02/2008 - 08/2011
Forschungsassistent an der Gruppe für Studien in Umweltthemen (GESTA), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil - 02/2010 - 07/2010
Teaching assistant in anthropology at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Education
- 01/2016 - 05/2023
PhD Social and Cultural Anthropology, Bayreuth University - 10/2012 - 10/2015
MA International Relations, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt University Berlin, Potsdam University - 02/2007 - 07/2011
BA in Social Sciences (Anthropology, Sociology and Political Science), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
Panel Memberships
- since 07/2018
Member of European Association for Social Anthropologists (EASA) - since 07/2016
Member of Society for the Social Studies of Science
My work is characterized by a focus on two thematic areas: 1) socio-environmental conflicts and political ecology; and 2) diversity, social inequality and racism in science and technology.
My research within the first area was initiated by my involvement in a participatory research project on socio-environmental conflicts at the Research Group on Environmental Themes at UFMG, Brazil. After that I worked in transdisciplinary projects at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, where I investigated the social impacts of biofuel production in Brazil, and at the Potsdam Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, where I coordinated an art and science exhibition and a public dialog on socio-ecological issues in Chile.
My research activities within the second thematic area developed through my interest in discussions about environmental racism as well as racism and science in Germany. Already during my master's studies, I initiated the memorial project “Manufacturing Race”, which included an exhibition on the colonial history of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Anthropology and Eugenics in Berlin. In addition, I am a member of the research group “Anthropology of Global Inequalities” in Bayreuth and of the Society for Social Studies of Science,
While my formation has been rooted in anthropology, political science and sociology, I work interdisciplinarily and combine methods of history, social sciences, and STS.
My teaching approach is oriented by the values and practice of care, generosity, and empathy. Inspired by Paulo Freyre’s pedagogical philosophy, I make efforts to align my teaching to the goal of contributing to my students’ personal growth, liberation, and development of autonomous critical thinking. Oriented by the principle of social justice, I consciously apply pedagogical methods that support reflexive thinking aimed at fostering an intersectional, relational, and global political sensitivity.
I have designed, coordinated, and taught several BA and MA seminars and lectures at different universities, including the courses: “Post/Decolonial Studies and Anthropology”, “Nature/Culture, Humans/Environment”, “Diversity and Inequality”, “Ethnographic Methods”, “Development and Globalization”, “Urban Studies”, “Brazilian Anthropology”, and “Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality”.
I have taught in formats ranging from seminars, lectures, and research-based courses, both online and in presence. I have designed and supervised different assessment modalities, from exams to final essays as well as less conventional, public-oriented outputs (including films, exhibition, and dialogical events).
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Anthropological Methods
The module is dedicated to social and cultural anthropological research methods and their theorization. The methods and their application are reflected upon and discussed in relation to the positioning of anthropologists, the construction of knowledge and ethical issues in the research process.
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Post-/Decolonial critique and anthropology
The course offers an overview of works that critically examine the history, traces, and consequences of colonialism. Texts, videos and artistic works will be used to discuss, among other things, the significance of post- and decolonial approaches for the social sciences and, in particular, for social and cultural anthropology.
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Difference and Inequality
Students are introduced to ethnological discussions on human and cultural diversity, difference(s) and inequalities. The seminar examines the production and effectiveness of categories of difference in science and politics as well as social inequality and subjectivity.
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Anthropology of Brazil / Brazilian Anthropology
The course offers an introduction to the social and cultural anthropological discussions about and in Brazil. Using ethnographic and theoretical texts, the following topics will be examined: Colonization and the national formation of Brazil; indigenous groups and their rights; post-slavery, racism and blackness; the category of difference “raça”, class and measures of inclusion; quilombolas; environmental conflicts and development; gender and sexuality; political movements.
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Culture/Nature, Human/Environment
The course offers an introduction to discussions on the concepts of culture and nature as well as the relationship between humans and the environment from social and cultural anthropological perspectives. Texts on the critique of the idea of >>race<< and on the critique of the essentialization of gender will be discussed. In a second part of the seminar, an overview of discussions on the human-environment relationship will be presented.
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Gender and Sexuality
The course offers an insight into the social and cultural anthropological discussions on gender and sexuality. Using ethnographic case studies, the approach and methods of anthropology are presented as well as the main theories in the subject area. In addition, the main contributions of anthropology to historical and current social discussions on the topic are presented.