Dr. William Fitzhugh

Director, Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center

Curator, Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History

Dr. Fitzhugh’s research encompasses archaeological and ethnographic studies of circumpolar Arctic peoples, necessitating fieldwork in many parts of the Arctic. He specializes in culture contact and change as precipitated by environmental factors and acculturation of Arctic peoples into modern global systems in the historic period. Dr. Fitzhugh’s personal research has focused recently on circumpolar artistic traditions and symbolism in burial practices. He is also active in public outreach, curating a number of major traveling exhibits including Ainu: Spirit of a Northern People and Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga which have resulted in films, websites, and both popular and scholarly publications.