IFR Field School Photos Featured in The Met’s Wari Feather Panel Exhibition
When archaeologists excavated a ceremonial site in Peru's Churunga Valley in 1943, they uncovered a remarkable piece of Andean history: ninety-six brilliantly colored feather panels (600-900 CE), rolled and sealed inside ceramic jars. More than eighty years later, nine of the panels are back in the spotlight as part of the Met's Wari Feathered Panels Exhibition, and photos sourced from IFR's Corral Redondo field school archives are now part of the story the Metropolitan Museum of Art is telling about them. The Wari were a highland Andean civilization that preceded the Inca by several centuries and in many ways laid the groundwork for the Inca Empire that followed. They established road networks, built ceremonial centers, and forged connections across [...]
Summer 2026 Student Contest
IFR students have the chance to share their field school photos and creativity with the IFR community, and win some great cash prizes in the process. Whether you have an eye for photography, a knack for video storytelling, or a flair for design, this is your chance to shine. Submit your entries by September 18, 2026. CATEGORIES Photo Show us the heart of your field school experience. Share snapshots of excavations, favorite finds, team bonding, breathtaking landscapes, or cultural encounters. We want to see the images that made your program unforgettable. Video Create a short form video that encapsulates the action, adventure, or everyday of your field school experience. You are free to get creative [...]
Monastic Midlands directors honored for outstanding public archaeology initiative
The Institute for Field Research is proud to recognize the program directors of our Monastic Midlands field schools for their contribution to A Practitioner’s Guide to Public Archaeology, which has been named the 2026 recipient of the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) Outstanding Public Archaeology Initiative Award. SAA’s Outstanding Public Archaeology Initiative Award highlights short-term projects that demonstrate meaningful and effective outreach. This year’s award-winning publication, edited by Elizabeth Reetz and Stephanie Sperling, responds to a common challenge in the field: while public engagement is widely recognized as essential, many archaeologists receive little formal training in how to design, implement, and assess impactful programs. The volume brings together decades of practitioner experience through its 38 contributors, all sharing practical, [...]
Evidence of earliest dogs discovered on excavation sites in Türkiye
Evidence of some of the earliest dogs has been identified at two University of Liverpool/British Institute at Ankara archaeological excavation projects in central Anatolia, Türkiye. Shedding new light on the development and spread of early domestic dogs, the findings are documented in two research papers published recently in Nature. Providing fascinating insights into dogs’ relationships with people and their rapid spread across Europe and Anatolia – the work involved zooarchaeologists from University College London, University of Liverpool and based in Türkiye and ancient DNA and isotope teams from the Natural History Museum, the Universities of Oxford and York, the Francis Crick Institute, and LMU Munich. Two of the key excavation sites used are led by the University of Liverpool [...]
Falling in Love with IFR
As we celebrate 15 years of IFR, we’ve been spotlighting alumni stories that show how impactful field school experiences can be. Sometimes that impact looks like a career path or a research focus—and sometimes, like in the case of IFR alumni Sarah and Michal, it looks like meeting the person you’ll build a life and a family with! -Sarah, IFR alumna This Valentine’s season, we are thrilled to reconnect with Sarah to ask some questions about their love story. Read on to learn how they met, where their journey has taken them since, and what advice they have for those considering field school. 1. What first drew you to each other during your summer in Ireland? The structure of [...]
How to Use the Gilman Scholarship to Fund Archaeology Field School
If you're a Pell Grant recipient dreaming of archaeology fieldwork abroad, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program could help make that dream affordable. Each year, this federal study abroad scholarship helps thousands of undergraduates fund international experiences. In fact, the Gilman Program awards scholarships to roughly 1 in 4 applicants, and IFR students have a strong track record of success. What is the Gilman Scholarship? The Gilman Program is a U.S. Department of State scholarship that provides up to $5,000 in merit-based funding to help undergraduate students with high financial need study or intern abroad. The overall mission of the program is to help students build valuable career skills and meaningful intercultural connections that promote mutual understanding and [...]
Introducing a New Generation of IFR
The past few years have been transformative for IFR, from growing into new regions and disciplines to expanding scholarship funding and strengthening support for our research partners around the world. With Giving Tuesday upon us, we sat down with Executive Director Mary Lou Forward to talk about how IFR has evolved and how community support helps make it all possible. Getting to Know Mary Lou 1. You have deep experience in international education, both working directly with students on-site in Madagascar as well as leading global learning initiatives from the U.S. before joining IFR in 2023. What drew you to join IFR, and what excites you most about supporting field-based research and education? I had the incredible opportunity to lead [...]
Celebrating IFR’s First Generation Stories
Every November, institutions across the country come together to celebrate First-Gen Week, an initiative launched to recognize the accomplishments and experiences of those who are the first in their families to pursue higher education. It’s a moment to honor not only the barriers they’ve broken, but also the pathways they continue to create for those who follow. At IFR, we’re proud to celebrate the first-generation members of our own community and their stories which reflect the heart of field science itself: curiosity, determination, and grit. This week, we’re amplifying a few of those voices. IFR students, alumni, and staff share their success stories and what it has meant for them to be first in the field—including their advice for other [...]
IFR Celebrates Another Inspiring Cohort of Vera Campbell Scholars
Last month, IFR hosted its annual celebration for the Vera R. Campbell Promise Scholars, a group of outstanding students who took their learning into the field this summer. Our 2025 cohort of scholars traveled to field schools in Ireland, Peru, North Macedonia, Ecuador, China, and Portugal, with our October celebration event marking the culmination of their journeys in this prestigious program. The scholars shared reflective videos of their field experiences and joined in lively discussions about their research and personal growth with IFR’s board, staff, and the scholarship’s generous funder, Vera Campbell. Their words captured just how transformative these opportunities can be. “As a kid I fell in love with museums and knew that I wanted to become an archaeologist. [...]
Celebrate 15 Years of IFR with Us!
Fifteen years, countless field schools, and unforgettable moments in the field ...it’s time to celebrate! To mark IFR’s upcoming 15th anniversary, we’re inviting both current students and alumni to share their memories (and creativity) and be part of this milestone year. Whether you’ve got an archive of throw-back photos, a knack for video storytelling, or an eye for design, this is your chance to shine. Submit your entries by November 3rd, 2025! CATEGORIES Photo Show us the heart of your field school experience. Share snapshots of excavations, favorite finds, team bonding, breathtaking landscapes, or cultural encounters. We want to see the images that made your program unforgettable. Video Create a short form video that encapsulates [...]