Anthropology strives to understand and describe the human experience, both past and present. Data is gathered through scientific methodologies that incorporate various sub-disciplines within the field of anthropology. It is the weaving together of this information, along with cross-cultural comparisons, that provides greater understanding into the universality of the human experience, the great diversity of human populations, as well as insights into contemporary issues within our own culture. This information is explored in active learning environments, which stresses student interaction and critical thinking.