Held annually in early summer at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, the Digital Humanities Summer Institute (DHSI) is one of the most significant gatherings of digital humanists in the world. It brings together scholars from across more than a dozen disciplines to address the most pressing theoretical and practical issues facing the field.
During a five-day period of intensive workshops, seminars, and lectures, participants share ideas and methods, and develop expertise in using advanced technologies. The Institute brings together faculty, staff, and students from the arts, humanities, library, and archives communities as well as independent scholars and participants from industry and government sectors. Eleanor Mahoney, a History graduate student who participated in the 2015 DHSI, called it a truly unique experience," citing both the diversity of participants and the breadth of courses offered.
In 2017, two teams with History Department representation will attend. The groups won fellowships from the UW's Simpson Center for the Humanities, a sponsor of the Institute. Graduate students Madison Heslop, Taylor Soja, and Rachel Taylor applied with the goal of investigating "Digital Teaching in Environmental Humanities," while Professor Anand Yang, graduate student Jessica Bachman, and UW Reference Librarian/South Asian Studies librarian Deepa Banjeree will be focused on "Online Exhibit Building & Digital Archiving."
In addition, Roneva Keel, a History graduate student, will serve as the Simpson Center's representative at the event.