Deadline for applications: Thursday, August 27, 2020 at 11:59 PM.
Send applications to: hr.admin@theacss.org
We are looking for a critical and experienced researcher in the humanities or social sciences to work on a multi-media research project, as part of the Arab region’s contribution to the World Humanities Report (WHR). The WHR is an outcome of the 2017 World Humanities Conference in Liège. It is global in scope and meant to aid in understanding and reflecting on the contributions of the humanities to ‘knowledge and society,’ more generally. (Please scroll to the end to see more on the majority Arabic-speaking region’s contribution to the WHR.)
You would join scholars from across the region in critically and creatively examining pedagogy, research methods, modes, themes, people and institutions related to the humanities.
The successful candidate will work with the region’s WHR co-editors on creating a regional archive or virtual museum of ‘critical humanities’ organizations and the kind of work they produce. In addition to desk research, interviews and other forms of research, the successful candidate will assist the co-editors in designing and administering a short questionnaire to the 40 organizations to be included in phase one of this project.
Duration and Time Commitment:
• Part-time (20 hours/week)
• Two-month commitment
• Weekly, in person, half-day meetings (in Hamra)
Compensation: 1000 USD/month
Roles and Responsibilities:
• Collecting, organizing and critically analyzing research and data on organizations and collectivesengaged in critical humanities knowledge production (including desk research, coding, content analysis, questionnaires, interviews, etc)
• Attending meeting with the co-editors of the WHR to present progress
• Liaising and following up with technical experts on the development of the online platform.
• Critically analyzing and contextualizing modes of knowledge production (e.g. policy memos,working papers, articles, press releases, edited volumes, etc.); we will be critically analyzing the ways in which organizations produce knowledge, for whom and for what purpose.
• Researching best practices on analysis and presentation of data/research through archiving and virtual exhibitions
• Developing questionnaires and surveys when necessary
• Planning and coordinating interviews with organizations across the region
To Apply:
Email the following to Martine Cortas, Head of Administration & HR, at hr.admin@theacss.org
• CV or resume including a list of courses relevant to the project
• Cover letter (500 words)
• Writing sample answering the following questions
- List three ‘critical humanities’ organizations from three different nation-states in the majority Arabic-speaking region you think this project should include.
- Write one paragraph introducing each organization. Questions to consider:
1) Who are ‘they?’ What do they do? For whom? (their mission)
2) How does the organization engage in critique? What is their strategy or approach?
3) What kind of knowledge/artifacts do they produce?
- Write five survey questions for critical humanities organizations:
Keeping the aim and the target audience of the WHR project in mind, list five questions you think should be included in the survey. Please avoid questions that can be answered by google, e.g. ‘What is your mission statement?’ ‘Where are you based?’ The questions should instead aid audiences in critically assessing their role in the region’s humanities/social sciences landscape.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Please note: Successful applicants will be expected to present the work at the regional WHR conference in December.
More on the World Humanities Report (WHR) – The Arab Region
The contents of the WHR report engage researchers, students, faculty, policymakers and other stakeholders keen on critically understanding the landscape and impact of humanities knowledge creation in the Arab region. The end product consists of (a) rigorous, forward thinking, academic essays or think pieces commissioned for this report, (b) excerpts from published papers and books (2015-2020) inspiring research and pedagogical innovation and (c) a multilingual, open-access archive (potentially leading to the creation of an interactive virtual museum) featuring the indicated essays and excerpts as well as multimedia stories on the region’s humanities collectives, platforms and institutions. Editorial decisions such as an emphasis on clear, simple language will ensure the archive of essays, excerpts and case studies, remains relevant to secondary and tertiary students, as well as for self and instructor-led learning.
The immersive, research and network-building archive spotlights stories humanities knowledge producers want to tell about themselves along with critical commentary. Whether researchers are searching for specific information or browsing, the audiovisual archive forges paths to unintentional learning or serendipitous education, as students and scholars engage in a gamified learning and research environment that informs and inspires new questions. As students and researchers move through the archive, a reward system based on levels and the completion of milestones will motivate continued engagement.
Because it is suited to both amateur and more professional productions, the archive will continuously grow through crowdsourcing, as organizations contribute their own stories, data and analysis for publication all while adhering to minimal ACSS guidelines. Additionally, by allowing authors to submit in the language of their choice and by using low-tech equipment and minimally edited audiovisual footage that allows for authentic representation, the platform will encourage horizontal participation in the production of knowledge.
The WHR project will serve as a launching pad for various other projects that capitalize on the critical connections made between the works and organizations shaping the social sciences and humanities landscape in the region. Translation will be undertaken according to the needs of the WHR website. A separate ACSS publication in Arabic stemming from the WHR project will serve as Volume II of the new ACSS publication series: Qiraat: ACSS Reviews in the Social Sciences and Humanities.