Video Conferences & Colloquia

The global pandemic abruptly shifted teaching, research, and gatherings large and small online. But even before this, experimental approaches to academic conferencing were rapidly gaining traction. In the fall of 2019, the Simpson Center supported a digitally-networked international conference, the first of its kind in the history of our funding awards. Participants and other faculty and students have expressed an enthusiastic interest in this emerging set of practices—and, in our current moment, we recognize the immediate need for them. It is clear to us that conferences and colloquia in digital formats warrant a new, distinct funding category.

Funding awards will support crossdisciplinary and interdisciplinary symposia, colloquia, and conferences of various scales (working conferences, international research conferences, etc.) in digital formats (we anticipate that the format will most often be multi-site digitally-linked video conferences, but we are open to other possibilities).

Eligibility

Proposals must be submitted and led by a UW tenure-track faculty member (all ranks) or a UW Teaching Professor. Teaching Professors at other ranks (Associate, Assistant) and graduate students may participate on conference organizing committees but may not serve as primary organizers.

Criteria

The global pandemic abruptly shifted teaching, research, and gatherings large and small online. But even before this, experimental approaches to academic conferencing were rapidly gaining traction. In the fall of 2019, the Simpson Center supported a digitally-networked international conference, the first of its kind in the history of our funding awards. Participants and other faculty and students have expressed an enthusiastic interest in this emerging set of practices—and, in our current moment, we recognize the immediate need for them. It is clear to us that conferences and colloquia in digital formats warrant a new, distinct funding category. Funding awards will support crossdisciplinary and interdisciplinary symposia, colloquia, and conferences of various scales (working conferences, international research conferences, etc.) in digital formats (we anticipate that the format will most often be multi-site digitally-linked video conferences, but we are open to other possibilities).

Proposals should outline the anticipated digital tools and platforms, campus spaces, and/or expertise to be coordinated in support of the conferences. Zoom is the most commonly used platform for video conferences. Two spaces on campus are currently designed specifically for digital meetings:

• Odegaard 320 in the UW Libraries offers video recording, web conferencing, and media viewing (capacity 17)
• Room T235 in the UW Health Sciences Building supports Zoom video conferencing software (capacity 35)

We anticipate that budget requests in this category will include a line item for hourly support. The Simpson Center is not equipped to provide the full range of tech support that may be needed for a digital conference, so we encourage applicants to plan to hire a qualified student to fill this role.

Terms of Award

Awards of financial and administrative support vary according to requests and needs. Because we can anticipate streamlined costs for digital conferences—participants will meet remotely, and travel costs will therefore be minimal—project budgets in this funding category will be lower than traditional conferences. Requests and awards will range between $2,000 and $5,000.

Additionally, a research budget in the amount of $1,500 may be awarded to the principal investigator when substantial organizational work or extra teaching is required. Including plans for a humanities seminar or course—in particular at the graduate level—to precede or coincide with conferences or colloquia is also valued.

Meeting Before Applying

Those applying for conference funding should consult with the Simpson Center regarding proposal narratives and project budgets.