Postgraduate Program and Supervision

My mandate at North West is to develop a top postgraduate program in anthropology. I am working closely with colleagues and the CTL to do this, and of course our remarkable MA students. A weekly seminar series, regular workshops and a virtual community are all part of this process.

Education

PhD Anthropology Stanford University 2017

MSc Forced Migration Oxford University 2010

BSocSci (Hons) University of Cape Town 2008

Undergraduate Teaching

I currently teach and support at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum. My goal is to bring a distinctly non-South African orientation into the department, and expose students to new perspectives, technologies and tools.

Regions2050: South Atlantic and Indian Ocean

One of my primary research focus areas at present is an ethnographic study of undersea internet cables in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean Region through WiSER's 'Regions2050: Mobile Spaces, Porous Borders, and Pathways of Regionalisation'.

Carbon

In recognition of the carbon my academic training has cost the word, I work with the Great Labyrinth of Africa Initaitve in planting and maintaining spekboom trees.

Why Jahaj?

Jahaj is the Hindi word for boat. It is also what happens when my own initials are placed next to those of my life partner. Using the word in this way, I acknowledge that my work takes place within the family, nourished by home, relationality and care. (On a practical level, the text is pointed here from jessauerbach.net).

. _ . Knowledge Mobilities. . .

21st C. Curricula South Atlantic <---> Indian Ocean; connection.

Associate Professor

Anthropology

North West University

Research Affiliate

Centre for Research in Higher Education, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

Curtin University, Mauritius

Universidade Katyavala Bwila, Angola

Research Areas: Angola, South Atlantic, Mauritius, Indian Ocean,

Curriculum Studies

Research Thematics: class, aesthetics, science and technology studies, decoloniality, 21st century pedagogy, multinodal ethnography.

jess.auerbach@nwu.ac.za