Outreach

Fall 2026 Dates are Now Available!

Please note: We do NOT provide tours of the Anthropology Research Facility, aka “The Body Farm.”

One of the primary missions of the Forensic Anthropology Center (FAC) is to promote outreach to grade schools, civic groups, science clubs, and college classes. We provide high quality, age-appropriate presentations that convey scientific information in a professional, accessible, and memorable manner without sensationalism. Please note that presentations on-site at the William M. Bass Building are only offered on certain days and times of the week.

Our graduate and undergraduate students provide an enriching presentation at our new Bass Building. Our classroom comfortably seats 35 persons (including students and chaperones), so groups are limited to that size. We have a minimum size of 12 attendees. The presentation typically consists of two parts. First, an oral presentation will be provided which will address the history of forensic anthropology and the skeletal donation program at UTK followed by an overview of the methods used by practitioners culminating in a discussion of identification techniques, decomposition, time since death, as well as pathology and trauma. Modifications to these topics can be made to best benefit your group. Following the talk, a set of skeletal stations will be available for participants to apply their new knowledge. Presentations are typically 60-75 minutes.

• There is no fee for these presentations.
• No photographs shall be taken without permission.
• Parking at the Bass Building is severely limited so a school bus or other mode of mass transportation must be arranged and coordinated. We cannot accommodate multiple vehicles or parents dropping off students. Our lot is not open for a bus to unload or to wait.
• On-site presentations ae only available on specific dates at set times as listed below. They are available on a first come first serve basis. Please realize that a date may appear, but it might already be assigned to a group. We will remove dates as they are selected.
• Our program will begin Tuesday, September 29 through Tuesday, November 25, 2026. No programs are offered on a Monday this semester.
• Please contact Dr. Liam Johnson at ljohn257@utk.edu or FAC_Outreach@utk.edu for any inquiries.

Available dates for on-site presentations at the William M. Bass Building

• October 27^th (3:00-4:30PM)
• October 29^th (9:30-11:00AM)
• October 29^th (3:00-4:30PM)
• November 4^th (9:30-11:00AM)
• November 6^th (300-4:30PM)
• November 12^th (9:30-11:00AM)
• November 17^th (3:00-4:30PM)
• November 19^th (3:00-4:30PM)
• November 24^th (3:00-4:30PM)