Indiana U. : "Africa's Oral Heritage & Indigenous Knowledge..", 02/01

METHODOLOGICAL ALTERNATIVES FOR INCORPORATING AFRICA'S ORAL HERITAGE AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGEINTO A CHANGING WORLD Summer Institute 6 June - 3 July 2001

The African Studies Program at Indiana University, Bloomington, announces a second 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 actively planning or completing research in Africa on these topics. Workshop sessions planned for the initial weeks of the Summer Institute will introduce and evaluate both quantitative and qualitative methods relevant to such research, focusing specifically on how they can be integrated into the contemporary world. The Summer Institute will be directed by Dr. Gracia Clark (Anthropology, Indiana University), and sessions will be led by members of Indiana University's African Studies faculty and visiting scholars.

The Summer Institute will be limited to twelve selected participants, who will receive funding for their travel expenses to Bloomington and their room and board on the Indiana University campus during the four weeks of the institute. Each participant should be prepared to actively discuss with the others an on-going research project of your own, to consider carefully whether or not new methods presented might contribute to your project, and to make substantial progress on it during the Summer Institute, as appropriate to its stage of completion. Access will be arranged to 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 performances and interviews 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 six months of 2001, (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 Hall 221, Bloomington, IN 47405. Applications must be received by 23 February 2001 to receive full consideration.

To request further details about the Summer Institute, please contact the African Studies Program: OFFICE: (812) 855-6825; FAX: (812) 855-6734; EMAIL: afrist@indiana.edu

For more information on the Summer Institute, check the African Studies Program webpage at: www.indiana.edu/~afrist