Category: Opportunities

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Call For Papers For Humanity Research Center 2025 Spring Conference

The Humanities Research Center is pleased to announce its annual Spring Conference 2025, which will be held in person at Duke Kunshan University from April 18-19, 2025, and will be centered around the topic of gender and sexuality. The conference will feature 4 keynote lectures and a couple dozen undergraduate research papers.

Current undergraduate students in at DKU and NYU Shanghai are invited to submit abstracts. Students selected from NYU Shanghai will receive round-trip transport to Kunshan, all meals, and shared accommodations.

Application

  • Papers must be written in English.
  • Papers must be unpublished research that has not been presented in a previous DKU Undergraduate Humanities Research Conference
  • Papers may be on any topic in an arts, humanities, interpretive social science or related interdisciplinary field. They do not have to address the conference theme.
  • Papers that rely principally on quantitive research methods will not be considered.
  • Papers must be by a single author.
  • Prizes of 1000 RMB will be awarded to the best five papers.

Fill out the application form here or scan the QR code.

Timeline

  • Tuesday, March 11, Information session on preparing a submission: Zoom TBD
  • Friday, March 14, or before: Submit application form with paper title and 300-word abstract.
  • Monday, March 24: Acceptance decisions announced.
  • Sunday, April 13: Final papers (max 10 pages double-spaced, excluding notes and bibliography) must be submitted to organizers to be considered for a prize.
  • Friday, April 18, and Saturday, April 19: Conference takes place on campus
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HRC Funding Opportunities: Call for Proposals for Spring 2025

The DKU Humanities Research Center (HRC) invites proposals from all DKU/Duke faculty and affiliates working on humanities-related projects. Projects should be based at DKU and/or connect Duke and DKU faculty. Proposals should be sent to Fei Xu at fx20@duke.edu by Dec 14th, 2024.

All approved projects should be completed by June 30, 2025.

  • Small Events
  • Large Events
  • Book Manuscript Workshops

Small Events

The HRC will fund a number of small-scale events, which could take the form of workshops, reading groups, film screenings and discussions, excursions, and so forth. Experimentation and innovation is encouraged, and applications may be submitted by either individuals or by groups of collaborators. All DKU and Duke faculty affiliates may apply.

A complete proposal (max 5 pages single-spaced) should include a title, a description of the research question, a summary of the activities to be undertaken, a list of the applicants and collaborators to be invited (with brief bios), a description of anticipated outcomes, and a budget. The maximum contribution from the HRC for each small event is $5,000.

Large Events

The HRC will also fund at least one larger-scale event, which could take the form of a workshop, a lecture series, a curatorial project, etc. Experimentation and innovation is encouraged, and applications may be submitted by either individuals or by groups of collaborators. All DKU and Duke faculty affiliates may apply.

A complete proposal (max 5 pages single-spaced) should include a title, a description of the topic/research question, a summary of the activities to be undertaken, a list of the applicants and collaborators to be invited (with brief bios), a description of anticipated outcomes, and a budget. The maximum contribution from the HRC for a large event is $15,000.

Manuscript Workshops

The HRC will fund one or more faculty book manuscript workshops, which provide a structure for generating constructive, informed criticism on near-final book manuscripts. The goal is to transform already excellent scholarly projects into superior published works, and the Center will provide up to $5,000 for faculty to organize a workshop that will include experts in their field and potentially an acquisitions editor from a major scholarly press. The Center will also help with relevant logistics. During a half-day workshop, these guests present their thoughts on the manuscript, followed by a response from the author and a general discussion.

All DKU faculty who will complete a book manuscript by Spring 2025 may apply.

A complete proposal should include a title, a synopsis of the book project, a draft of the introduction, a short CV of the applicant, a list of suggested invitees (including both outside scholars and local participants), and specification of which press the applicant would like to invite.

Inquiries should be directed to HRC co-directors Selina Lai-Henderson ( slai.henderson@dukekunshan.edu.cn ) and Carlos Rojas ( c.rojas@duke.edu )

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Should We Care About The Future?

Should We Care about the Future? Vasubandhu on Selfless Agency and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Location: Vigne, 1221-1 Changle Lu , Shanghai, China

Time: October 26th, 4:00-6:00 pm

Professor Oren Hanner will give a lecture in Shanghai on October 26 sponsored by HRC and the Royal Asiatic Society. Members of the DKU community can register at a discounted rate using a valid @dukekushan.edu.cn email address.

Buddhist philosophy is well known for its rejection of an enduring self that exists beyond the various mental and physical components that make up a person. This rejection, however, raises a host of difficulties—both philosophical and practical. For example, if this is the case, how and why should Buddhists careabout their future happiness? If there is no enduring self that persists from past to present to future, should we worry about whether the outcomes of our actions produce happiness for ourselves in the future?

In this talk, Professor Oren Hanner of Duke Kunshan University introduces the Buddhist critique of the self that underlies this problem. The talk then discusses the way in which the Indian thinker Vasubandhu (c. 4th-5th century CE), one of the founders of the Yogācāra school of Buddhist philosophy, explains the possibility of agency in the absence of a persisting self and his solution to the problem of our motivation to act for our own future happiness, given that the Buddhist path prescribes non-attachment to the self and letting go of desire.

Speaker’s Bio:

Oren Hanner’s research focuses on the history of Buddhist philosophy inIndia, ethics, philosophy of action, and cross-cultural philosophy. His recent writing dealt with questions related to the meaning of life, joint moral agency, and justice, as they can be understood from a Buddhist perspective.

Oren is the editor of Buddhism and Scepticism: Historical, Philosophical, and Comparative Perspectives (Projekt Verlag, 2020) and has published articles in various journals, including Sophia, Comparative Philosophy, Philosophy East and West, and Mindfulness. From 2019 to 2023, he was the book review editor of the Journal of Buddhist Ethics.

Oren holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and communication from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, an M.A. in philosophy from Tel-Aviv University, and a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from the University of Hamburg.

Register now:  https://ras-china.glueup.cn/event/ras-philosophy-club-oct-26-should-we-care-about-the-future-45311/

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US-China Relations Symposium Call for Student Proposals

Date: October 11, 2024
Location: Duke Kunshan University

The Duke Kunshan University (DKU) US-China Relations Symposium invites students to submit proposals for presentations at our upcoming event. This one-day symposium will bring together a distinguished group of interdisciplinary scholars, including faculty from DKU, Harvard University, Lingnan University, and NYU-Shanghai. The symposium will focus on exploring the complex and evolving relationship between China and the United States in a global context.

 About the Symposium:

The US-China Relations Symposium at DKU aims to engage both faculty and students in meaningful discussions about Sino-American relations. Participants will have the opportunity to share research, discuss course syllabi, and brainstorm new ideas for pedagogical and co-curricular programming that can help students gain a deeper understanding of this crucial bilateral relationship.

 Symposium Schedule:

  • 9:30 to 11:00 AM: Faculty Research Presentations
  • 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM: Student-Faculty Discussion
  • 12:30 to 2:00 PM: Lunch
  • 2:00 to 3:30 PM: Syllabus Workshop
  • 3:45 to 5:15 PM: Pedagogy and Co-Curricular Programming Discussion
  • 5:30 PM: Dinner

 Invitation to Students:

We welcome all DKU students to submit proposals to present their own research on topics related to US-China relations. This is a valuable opportunity to showcase your work and engage in discussions with scholars working in this field. Students interested in presenting are invited to submit a 100-word abstract summarizing their research. Proposals should focus on any aspect of Sino-American relations, whether historical, contemporary, economic, political, cultural, or related to educational and co-curricular programming.

 Submission Guidelines:

  • Deadline: Please submit your abstract by September 30th, 2024.
  • How to Apply: Send your proposal (100-word abstract) to Professor Zach Fredman at zsf5@duke.edu.
  • Eligibility: All DKU undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to submit proposals.

 About Professor Zach Fredman:
Zach Fredman is an Associate Professor of History and Chair of the Division of Arts and Humanities at Duke Kunshan University. His research focuses on US-China relations. He is the author of The Tormented Alliance: American Servicemen and the Occupation of China, 1941-1949 (UNC Press, 2022) and co-editor of Uneasy Allies: Sino-American Relations at the Grassroots, 1937-1949 (Cambridge UP, 2024).

We look forward to receiving your submissions and hope to see you at the symposium!

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GSL Faculty-Student Research Grants Call

The Gender Studies Lab invites applications for AY 2024-2025 funding (up to $500 USD) for new faculty-student research projects on topics related to gender, sexuality, queer theory, or feminism. The applications may be submitted either by the faculty member or the student(s) but must involve some sort of faculty-student collaboration. This could entail a collaborative faculty-student project but also includes faculty working with student research assistants, student projects that have a faculty advisor, and students working on their Signature Work projects with their mentors.

This grant is intended to help develop new projects that have not yet received funding elsewhere. Funds may be used for any research-related expenses, including books, travel and accommodation expenses, interview or survey compensation, research assistant stipend, purchase of or subscription to relevant research resources and software, etc. Please note that receipts must be submitted for reimbursement by June 25, 2025, and assuming they have not graduated, the student awardees will be expected to present their work at a GSI research workshop in fall 2025.

If the research projects involve human participants, students must begin research activities only after their IRB proposal has been approved. Please note that research expenses can be reimbursed only after students have submitted proof of IRB approval.

The application should be a 1-2 page document that includes the following:

  • The members of the research team (including position and division for faculty and year and major/intended major for students)
  • Project title
  • A brief abstract (less than 200 words)
  • A brief description of the type of faculty-student collaboration you envision
  • A brief statement of how your project addresses issues related to gender, sexualities, or feminism
  • A brief budget

Applications are due by September 30. Please email your applications to GSI co-lead Jesse Olsavsky (jesse.olsavsky@dukekunshan.edu.cn).

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The Gender Studies Initiative Calls for Applications for Faculty-Student Research Grants

The Gender Studies Initiative invites applications for AY 2024-2025 funding (up to $500 USD) for new faculty-student research projects on topics related to gender, sexuality, queer theory, or feminism.  The applications may be submitted either by the faculty member or the student(s) but must involve some sort of faculty-student collaboration.  This could entail a collaborative faculty-student project but also includes faculty working with student research assistants, student projects that have a faculty advisor, and students working on their Signature Work projects with their mentors.

This grant is intended to help develop new projects that have not yet received funding elsewhere.  Funds may be used for any research-related expenses, including books, travel and accommodation expenses, interview or survey compensation, research assistant stipend, purchase or subscription of relevant research resources and software, etc.  Please note that receipts must be submitted for reimbursement by June 25, 2025, and assuming they have not graduated, the student awardees will be expected to present their work at a GSI research workshop in fall 2026.

If the research projects involve human participants, students must begin research activities only after their IRB proposal has been approved. Please note that research expenses can be reimbursed after students have submitted proof of IRB approval.

The application should be a 1-2 page document that includes the following:

  • The members of the research team (including position and division for faculty and year and major/intended major for students)
  • Project title
  • A brief abstract (less than 200 words)
  • A brief description of the type of faculty-student collaboration you envision
  • A brief statement of how your project addresses issues related to gender, sexualities, or feminism
  • A brief budget

Applications are due by September 30.  Please email your applications to GSI co-lead Jesse Olsavsky (jesse.olsavsky@dukekunshan.edu.cn).

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Humanities Research Center Fall Conference 2024 Call for Papers (submission deadline: July 31)

Humanities Matter: Ecological Crossroads, Past, Present, and Future

Conference Dates: August 30-31

Venue: Duke Kunshan University

Photograph by: Binbin Li, Associate Professor of Environmental Science at DKU

Why do the humanities matter in times of climate change, environmental unsustainability, and threats to biodiversity? What roles have the arts and the humanities played at different ecological crossroads—both past and present—in helping to ensure a more sustainable future?

The 2024 annual Fall HRC conference will foreground a set of concerns relating to environmental humanities, with keynote speakers, exhibits, screenings, and other activities. We also, however, invite faculty presentations on any topics relating to the humanities, interpretive social sciences, and creative arts.

Please send a title and a 150-word abstract to Faye Xu at fei.xu1@dukekunshan.edu.cn by July 31, 2024.

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Call for Proposals for 2024-2025

The DKU Humanities Research Center (HRC) invites proposals from all DKU/Duke faculty and affiliates working on humanities-related projects. Projects should be based at DKU and/or connect Duke and DKU faculty. Proposals should be sent to Fei Xu at fx20@duke.edu by June 30, 2024.

All approved projects should be completed by June 30, 2025.

  • Small Events
  • Large Events
  • Book Manuscript Workshops

Small Events

The HRC will fund a number of small-scale events, which could take the form of workshops, reading groups, film screenings and discussions, excursions, and so forth. Experimentation and innovation is encouraged, and applications may be submitted by either individuals or by groups of collaborators. All DKU and Duke faculty affiliates may apply.

A complete proposal (max 5 pages single-spaced) should include a title, a description of the research question, a summary of the activities to be undertaken, a list of the applicants and collaborators to be invited (with brief bios), a description of anticipated outcomes, and a budget. The maximum contribution from the HRC for each small event is $5,000.

Large Events

The HRC will also fund at least one larger-scale event, which could take the form of a workshop, a lecture series, a curatorial project, etc. Experimentation and innovation is encouraged, and applications may be submitted by either individuals or by groups of collaborators. All DKU and Duke faculty affiliates may apply.

A complete proposal (max 5 pages single-spaced) should include a title, a description of the topic/research question, a summary of the activities to be undertaken, a list of the applicants and collaborators to be invited (with brief bios), a description of anticipated outcomes, and a budget. The maximum contribution from the HRC for a large event is $15,000.

Manuscript Workshops

The HRC will fund one or more faculty book manuscript workshops, which provide a structure for generating constructive, informed criticism on near-final book manuscripts. The goal is to transform already excellent scholarly projects into superior published works, and the Center will provide funding (generally up to $5,000) for faculty to invite two experts in their field and an acquisitions editor from a major scholarly press to DKU or Duke. During a half-day workshop, these guests present their thoughts on the manuscript, followed by a response from the author and a general discussion.

All DKU faculty who will complete a book manuscript by Spring 2025 may apply.

A complete proposal should include a title, a synopsis of the book project, a draft of the introduction, a short CV of the applicant, a list of suggested invitees (including both outside scholars and local participants), and specification of which press the applicant would like to invite.

 

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Visitor Registration Open for the Spirit of Space Exploration Conference

Scan QR code to register

The Humanities Research Center at Duke Kunshan University is pleased to announce that visitor registration is now open for its conference on The Spirit of Space Exploration in China and the West, which runs from June 6-8, 2024.

A full conference program may be viewed online here.

The conference features four keynote speakers and some fifteen panelists who will discuss topics related to the humanistic interpretation and cultural contexts of space exploration in China and the West.

Visitors may attend the conference online or in person by registering online by June 4, 2024. For those attending remotely, a Zoom link will be sent on June 5, 2024. Please note that all times are China Standard Time (UTC+8). Unfortunately we are not able to provide subventions for visitors.

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