Benvenuta Dr Paola Tine
It is with great pleasure that we warmly welcome Dr Paola Tine to the Cultural Anthropology Programme.
Q: What is your background and where have you come from?
I have a background in visual and medical anthropology. I was born in Palermo, Sicily, to a family of medical doctors. As I completed high school, I have been travelling non-stop for study and research-related reasons. First I went to Tuscany, then to the UK, to Nepal, to Australia, and then finally I landed in New Zealand.
Q: What drew you to the School of Social and Cultural Studies here at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington?
There are several reasons why I chose VUW. Firstly, I was drawn to this university because of its reputation for providing high-quality education as well as its dedication to innovation and student achievement. VUW, hosting New Zealand’s most well-known and active anthropology program, makes a dream location for me to continue maturing as a teacher and researcher. I particularly like the university's emphasis on diversity, equality, and inclusivity as well as its dedication to providing a friendly and supportive atmosphere for all staff and students.
Q: How are you finding it so far? Have there been any surprises?
I love the campus, and the SACS staff and my colleagues in the Department of Anthropology have been so caring to me since the first day, helping me to settle into my new role.
Q: What’s your research field and what are you researching at the moment?
My central research interest is to make use of creative methods as an essential part of our meaning-making at an analytical and epistemological level. This is what I am passionate about, and this is what motivated me to study anthropology in the first place. I am now studying the social dynamics surrounding digestion and the gut, and for this project, I am using visual methods as well.
Q: What will you be teaching?
I am teaching Medical Anthropology, Ritual and Collective Life, and from next year also Visual Anthropology and Honours.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like walking around the city, playing games with friends, and drawing.