Dumbarton Oaks Plant Humanities Summer Program 2020, Dumbarton Oaks, June 29–July 24, 2020
Dumbarton Oaks invites applications for a four-week, fully funded summer program focusing on Plant Humanities: the interdisciplinary study of plants, their global travels, and the myriad ways in which they have shaped human culture. The summer program will take place at Dumbarton Oaks, a research institute, museum, and historic garden affiliated with Harvard University and located in Washington, DC. The program is offered in the context of a new initiative at Dumbarton Oaks, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, to further the field of plant humanities, in collaboration with JSTOR Labs.
The summer program is intended for advanced undergraduates (juniors and seniors) and graduate students with an interest in plants from perspectives as different as botany, botanical exploration, the history of science and medicine, environmental studies, art history, and the history of the book and botanical illustration. Program participants will attend seminars and lectures as well as site visits to the Smithsonian, the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, the United States Botanic Garden, and other sites.
The ten participants in the summer program will learn about the cultural histories of plants through seminars and guest lectures. They will also receive training in primary source research in the Dumbarton Oaks Rare Book Collection, which is particularly strong in botanical publications and illustrations. As part of this work, they will curate an exhibition to explore non-western perspectives and interactions with plants showcasing such themes as environmental conservation, the legacy of colonialism, and the dissemination of indigenous knowledge. Lastly, students will engage with and provide feedback on the open access digital tool developed in collaboration with JSTOR Labs, which connects primary and secondary resources about plants through visually engaging storytelling.
Admission Requirements
Priority will be given to undergraduate and graduate students with special interests (demonstrated through coursework or research projects) in the fields of history of science, environmental studies, digital humanities, art history, and/or botany. However, we also welcome applications from candidates who may not already possess skills in digital humanities or the use of special collections but seek to develop these skills.
Accommodation and Expenses
Dumbarton Oaks will provide shared accommodations on our campus in Washington, DC, reimbursement of economy-class travel expenses (up to $600), lunch on weekdays in the Refectory, a Library reader’s pass for the duration of the course, and transportation to site visits for successful applicants.