Indiana U: "Africa's Oral Heritage and Indigenous Knowledge..", 08/00

Summer Institute at Indiana University, Bloomington

Seminaire a l'University Indiana, Bloomington, sur l'incorporation du patrimoine oral et des connaissances locales dans les projects d'avenir.

Ce seminaire sur les methodes de recherche sur l'information orale, et l'utilisation de cette information dans le monde en devenir, est dirige par Dr. Gracia Clark (Anthropology, Indiana University). Il est ouvert-- par concours- a 12 jeunes academiciens dont les projets de recherche sont bases sur l'oralite.

INCORPORATING AFRICA'S ORAL HERITAGE AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE INTO A CHANGING WORLD

A Summer Institute organized by the African Studies Program at Indiana University 9 July - 5 August 2000

The African Studies Program at Indiana University, Bloomington, announces a Summer Institute focusing on Incorporating Africa's Oral Heritage and Indigenous Knowledge into a Changing World. Funded by a grant from the Ford Foundation, the Summer Institute is designed for junior faculty and advanced graduate students in the humanities and social sciences interested in Africa's oral heritage and indigenous knowledge. Workshops planned for the initial weeks of the Summer Institute will introduce both quantitative and qualitative methodologies relevant to research on indigenous knowledge and oral heritage, specifically with consideration for how they can be integrated into the contemporary world. The Summer Institute will be directed by Dr. Gracia Clark (Anthropology, Indiana University), and workshops will be led by members of Indiana University's African Studies faculty and visiting scholars.

The Summer Institute will be limited to twelve participants. Each participant should be prepared to discuss an on-going research project with others attending the Summer Institute. Those selected to participate will receive travel expenses to Bloomington, room and board on the Indiana University campus during the Summer Institute, and access to the African Studies resources on the Bloomington campus, including the African Studies collection in the main research library, the African art collection at the University Museum, and recorded oral data from Africa in the Archives of Traditional Music.

APPLICATIONS: Interested junior faculty and advanced graduate students in African Studies should apply for the Summer Institute by submitting the following materials: (1) an application letter stating academic status (including the department and university of academic affiliation) and teaching and other academic responsibilities (for junior faculty) or academic plans (for advanced graduate students), (2) a sheet listing contact information for the first seven months of 2000, (3) a curriculum vitae, (4) a one-page description of a current research project (including a brief discussion of work completed to date and plans for the research after the Summer Institute), (5) three letters of reference (sent directly by the referee), including a letter from the chair or head of the applicant's academic department of affiliation. Junior faculty applying from Africa may wish to include a letter of support from the chief academic officer of the university of affiliation. The application materials should be sent to: Summer Institute on Oral Heritage and Indigenous Knowledge, African Studies Program, Indiana University, Woodburn 221, Bloomington, IN 47405. Applications must be received by 20 March 2000 to receive full consideration.

To request further details about the Summer Institute, please contact the African Studies Program: (812) 855-6825; (812) 855-6734 (fax), afrist@indiana.edu. For more information on the Summer Institute, check the African Studies Program webpage at: www.indiana.edu/~afrist