Anthropology grad wins grand prize award for innovative archaeology research

August 1, 2025 - Louise Henderson

With more than 1,100 students participating in the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF), only three grand prize winners were named. Among them was 19-year-old recent anthropology graduate Sasha Franklin whose nontraditional project has already gained attention.

Franklin’s research project, Archaeology Education in the Digital Age: Sharing History Through ArcGIS StoryMaps, won the UURAF grand prize in the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts category. Her project used an interactive platform called ArcGIS StoryMaps. ArcGIS technology is widely used by archaeologists because it allows geographic information systems (GIS) to transform spatial data into interactive digital maps. With ArcGIS StoryMaps, photos, videos, explanations, and even 3D models can be embedded, allowing viewers to explore archaeology sites and their artifacts all in one place.

“I was really excited this type of project was recognized,” Franklin said.

Franklin developed the idea for her project while working in the Bioarchaeology Laboratory at Michigan State University (MSU) under Dr. Gabriel Wrobel, a professor of anthropology and the lab’s director. There, she worked with a collection from the National Institute of Culture and History in Belize (NICH). Her main role involved using photogrammetry—a technique that transforms still images into detailed 3D models of artifacts.

“Photogrammetry and other 3D models are really accessible—you can share them with anyone, anywhere, and they offer a much clearer sense of an artifact than a photo,” Franklin said. “Additionally, since our models are made to scale, measurements can be taken on them which is helpful when doing research.”

Knowing these models would be valuable to NICH and the public, Franklin shaped her research around making them widely accessible. Her goal was to present them in a narrative format, creating a more engaging and educational experience. Her work was made possible through several College of Social Science scholarships including the Provost’s Undergraduate Research Initiative, the Dean’s Scholarship, and the Andrew Undergraduate Fellowship, which supported her research and development of the project.

“I’m so proud of Sasha for receiving this award—it’s wonderful to see her recognized for all the hard work she spent in the Bioarchaeology Lab these past three years,” Dr. Wrobel said. “Her project not only contributes valuable insights into Maya history and Belize, but she’s also laid a strong foundation for other students to carry this work forward.”

To design this type of innovative experience, Franklin used ArcGIS StoryMaps—a platform she first encountered during a National Science Foundation-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates at a field school hosted by St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The platform allowed her to build an interactive website featuring multiple archaeological sites in Belize, with content covering the fundamentals of archaeology, digital techniques such as photogrammetry, 3D scanning and LiDAR, as well as classroom activities like a mock excavation and a lesson on writing names in Maya glyphs—all in one place.

“It can be difficult to fully understand something based on a description alone,” Franklin said. “Digital tools like StoryMaps make history easier to understand by letting people explore archaeological sites and stories in a more interactive and accessible way.”

While working on the project, Franklin collaborated with archaeologists and educators in Belize—individuals looking to find new ways to share history with future generations—and received valuable feedback throughout the process. She also presented her research at this year’s Society for American Archaeology Annual Meeting, where she hopes fellow archaeologists recognized the potential of digital storytelling.

“I hope archaeologists continue to make education and outreach a priority and work collaboratively with the communities that are invested in their projects,” Franklin said.

Continuing her work in archaeology after graduation, Franklin recently had the opportunity to join Dr. Jon Frey, associate professor of Classical Studies, Art History & Visual Culture at MSU, at an excavation site in Isthmia, Greece. There, she worked in two trenches, excavating a Roman foundation and part of a Roman bath.

“It’s amazing to be around archeologists like Jon— whether he was chatting in Greek at the grocery store or with local artisans, he reminded me how important it is to build relationships and meet people where they are,” Franklin said.

That’s the kind of archaeologist Franklin hopes to be. With minors in Classical and Ancient Mediterranean Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies, she’s interested in how culture shapes perception. She’s currently exploring opportunities in politics, advocacy and the nonprofit sector, with plans to return to graduate school after gaining more experience.