New Scholars Seminar in Digital Humanities
August 8th, 9-4:30, Montreal, Location TBA
CHCI and centerNet are collaborating to organize a pre-conference seminar for new scholars interested in the digital humanities. We have arranged for support for up to 15 scholars to help with the costs of transportation, accommodation, mentoring, and a day-long unconference.
The Kule Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Alberta is organizing this seminar on behalf of CHCI and centerNet. Rachel Hendery (Senior Lecturer in Digital Humanities, Western Sydney University) and Geoffrey Rockwell (Director, Kule Institute for Advanced Study, University of Alberta, Canada) will convene the New Scholars Seminar.
What is the New Scholars Seminar?
The NSS is an unconference event on Tuesday 8th August preceding the DH2017 conference. There will also be an optional 'lightning talks' event on the evening of the 7th, for participants who are able to arrive in time for this. The NSS is for new scholars to meet and develop research collaborations in the digital humanities. The agenda for the unconference events will be set by the participants. This year, we are developing a mentoring component. Participants in the NSS will be matched, where possible, with senior scholars in their area as a 'mentor' during the rest of the DH2017 conference. We will facilitate an initial meeting to introduce participants to their mentors near the start of the conference. This is a great opportunity to meet and discuss your work with an international leader in your discipline.
Who would participate?
For the purposes of this seminar a "new scholar" is defined as someone who is either a graduate student or someone who has received their PhD within the last 5 years (or longer if a case is made for career interruption). Postdoctoral fellows and people in alternative academic positions are welcome to apply.
Participation will be by reviewed application and accommodation/travel support will be limited to 15 people, who must be affiliated with a CHCI or centerNet member organization. In addition up to 5 local participants will be selected in collaboration with the conference organizers.
How does one apply?
Applications are due by June 4th. Applications include i) a Statement of Research that outlines your research interests in digital humanities; ii) a letter of support from a CHCI/centerNet centre/institute director, including a statement specifying the matching funds the centre will offer to supplement the CHCI and centerNet contributions toward the applicant's trip; and iii) a short two-page CV. Applications should be sent to the Kule Institute for Advanced Study <kias@ualberta.ca> at the University of Alberta.
What sort of support will be provided?
CHCI and centerNet have negotiated a support package for participants, requiring matching support from the applicant's home institution.
For participants from outside North America:
- CHCI and centerNet will together provide USD $1100 in support of up to 5 participants outside North America who are sponsored by CHCI/centerNet institutes ($800 from CHCI and $300 from centerNet).
- The sponsoring CHCI/centerNet institutes are expected to provide matching support to the applicants if they are accepted.
Participants from within North America will receive the following support:
- CHCI and centerNet will together provide USD $500 ($400 from CHCI and $100 from centerNet) for up to 10 participants from within North America
- The sponsoring CHCI/centerNet institutes are expected to provide matching support to the applicants if they are accepted.
New Scholars Seminar Programme
The programme for the seminar will be developed by the participants once accepted and coordinated by the Kule Institute for Advanced Study. The idea is to empower new scholars to develop their own research directions and collaborations. There will therefore be two phases:
- Before the on site portion of the Seminar there will be an online component. Participants will share their Statements and negotiate what will happen during the seminar. We expect there will be clusters of research interests that emerge which can form the intellectual backbone of the Seminar. KIAS will coordinate an online conversation that will encourage leadership to emerge from within the group so that the actual structure of the on site days will be primarily organized by the participants. This is also the time at which participants can peruse the conference program and notify us of their preferences for who they would like to be paired with for the mentorship activity.
- The on site portion of the Seminar will take place on the evening of the 7th August (for lightning talks) and from 9-4:30pm on 8 August. The program will include discussions led by participants addressing issues identified in online discussion and unconference activities.