The Digital Global Middle Ages, an NEH-funded National Immersive Global Middle Ages DH Institute, in person and virtual, January 2022–November 2023
At the intersections of medievalism(s), multidisciplinary epistemologies, and globalization, the Middle Ages were not only a Western European and Christian experience, but one that was global, interconnected, culturally diverse, and with many centers of cultural and political authority. Experiencing other times, places, and cultures through immersive technology is a rapidly growing methodology in research and teaching. Unfortunately, the hardware, software, expertise, and institutional support to build these experiences are not evenly available. This institute is designed as a gateway skill- and capacity-building initiative that cultivates and mentors participants who are seeking to employ immersive technologies in research, teaching, and public outreach for any world region during the Global Middle Ages (500-1500 C.E.).
The intensive series of fourteen monthly virtual workshops (January 2022-December 2023) and two four-day in- person workshops at the University of Colorado–Colorado Springs (summer 2022) and Vanderbilt University (summer 2023) will ensure the project meets its primary goal of shepherding humanists through a comprehensive immersive reality curriculum culminating in our participants’ delivery of their own substantive projects.
Our Institute prioritizes the professional development of diverse participants who work in a variety of institutions. The Institute will solicit fourteen (14) participants from ethnically, racially, gender-diverse, and disability backgrounds who are presently academics and researchers in the humanities. We also welcome applicants working in cultural institutions, associations, societies, museums, libraries, archives, and other humanities-related organizations. We seek individuals who are launching new and emergent projects related to the Global Middle Ages (any region of the world during the period 500-1500). We are employing this approach for selecting participants because we aim to address the diversity inequities in academia.
As the Institute is a United States of America tax-payer funded initiative, U.S.A. citizens and permanent residents will receive first consideration, followed by non-citizens. Applications from internationally-residing persons are welcome, however, please keep in mind that the virtual workshops will be held during the morning and afternoon hours of U.S. Central and Mountain time zones (CST: UTC−06:00 and MST: UTC−07:00). Attendance of virtual workshops is mandatory.
Applications due October 31 (early admission) and November 28, 2021.