The Institute for Spatial History Innovation is accepting proposals for sponsored working groups for the 2025-2026 academic year. These working groups are intended to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration around exploring new methods, sharing knowledge, and creating innovative approaches to understanding and engaging with spatial history. Broadly defined, spatial history examines how humans have inhabited and interacted with the physical and social landscapes of the world over time, and how those interactions have, in turn, shaped human activity. These dynamics are documented and analyzed using spatial tools such as maps, gazetteers, and a range of archival and cartographic sources.
Proposal Guidelines
By Monday, October 20, please send the following to ISHI@pitt.edu:
- Title of the Working Group: A brief, descriptive title.
- Objectives and Scope: A clear statement of the group’s central topic, goals, and intersections with the field of spatial history.
- Team: List of proposed members, including their relevant expertise and experience. Teams should include at least three members from at least two different units across campus.
- Outcomes and Deliverables: Description of expected deliverables (e.g., research papers, digital tools, community initiatives) and how they will be disseminated.
- Proposed budget up to $1,000
Working groups that focus on activities related to the following initiatives will receive priority consideration: spatial history of Asia, digital justice and ethics, global linked data, and geographies of sustainability. Working groups will receive access to Institute space, administrative and project consultation support, and a modest budget for their activities. Working groups should have clearly defined tangible outcomes such as publications, online resources, or public-facing exhibitions.
For questions or further information, contract Ali Straub (als512@pitt.edu)