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Call for Applications Theme: Buddhist Asia Subtitle: Traditions, Transmissions and Transformations Type: NEH Summer Institute Institution: Asian Studies Development Program, University of Hawai'i at Manoa (UHM) Location: Honolulu, HI (USA) Date: 25.5.–26.6.2015 Deadline: 2.3.2015 __________________________________________________ One of the most striking features of Buddhist Asia is its diversity. The teachings, practices, institutions, art and architecture associated with Buddhism in Japan, Thailand and Tibet, for example, are as different as these countries’ terrains, climates and cuisines. Indeed, they differ as greatly as do Mexican Catholicism, German Lutheranism and American Mormonism. The Institute program is designed to explore this diversity in ways that will be useful both in framing research projects and developing materials for use in undergraduate humanities and social science courses. The Institute’s presenters have been selected to afford participants with a rich array of intellectual and pedagogical resources for understanding and teaching about the evolution of Buddhist traditions across Asia, and have been drawn primarily from the disciplines of religion, philosophy, history, literature and art history. To help bring continuity and focused clarity to a necessarily diverse program, each of the first four weeks will feature a lead academic who will offer multiple lectures and interact with participants both formally and informally over several days: Rupert Gethin (Religious Studies), Tansen Sen (History), John Kieschnick (Religious and Cultural History), Thomas Kasulis (Philosophy and Comparative Humanities) and Anne Blackburn (Asian Studies). As the Institute Director, Peter Hershock will be present throughout the program and will meet both individually and in small groups with participants to discuss their research and/or curriculum development efforts. Prior to the Institute, participants will be asked to make use of the Institute Bibliography to guide their reading in preparing for the program, and will be expected to read background texts. Participants will also be asked to make use of the Institute website which will contain links to readings selected by program presenting faculty; useful web links; a list of relevant feature and documentary films; and a forum for sharing information and making inquiries prior to, during, and after the Institute program. Over the course of the institute, presenter lecture notes and power-point files will be added to the website along with other pedagogically-relevant materials and resources. Who Should Apply To apply for the Buddhist Asia Institute you must meet the NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) eligibility criteria (see our website). In addition to fulltime faculty at American 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities, the program is also open to adjunct faculty and graduate students. In keeping with the ASDP mission of enhancing undergraduate Asian studies, we especially welcome applications from faculty who demonstrate a personal commitment to teaching excellence and whose institutions are committed to expanding and enhancing engagement with Asian content throughout the humanities and social sciences. Because the program is designed to offer a broad introduction to Buddhist Asia while also providing a context for more in-depth exploration of specific regional traditions and historical dynamics, no prior training in Buddhist or Asian studies is expected. We also do not expect training in Asian languages. A guiding principle of the selection process will be to include people from a wide range of disciplines to become co-creators of a truly diverse community of inquiry. This will likely include people with substantial graduate Asian area studies training, but also people with no such training. We also anticipate including both people with academic and/or personal commitments to the study of Buddhism, but also people completely new to studying and teaching about Buddhism. In the end, we are looking for a group of people who will enthusiastically explore how turn differences into opportunities for mutual contribution. NEH Stipend Participants will receive a total stipend of $3900 to help meet costs associated with attending the Institute, including travel, housing, meals, and required Institute texts. A stipend check will be disbursed on the first day of the Institute. Participants accepted into the program are expected to attend all sessions, arriving on May 24, 2015. The Application Process If you decide to apply for admission to the Institute, please use the guidelines and cover sheet provided by the NEH which is available below. NEH no longer requires reference letters, but does request that you provide contact information for two references. The postmark submission deadline is March 2, 2015. Applicants will be notified about the status of their applications on March 30, 2015. In addition to the NEH coversheet, you must submit an application package to ASDP for review by the Institute selection committee. This package should include your CV and an essay (up to 1,500 words) in which you provide us with relevant information about your personal and academic background; your reasons for applying to this particular program; how you anticipate participation in the Institute to impact your teaching, research, and/or writing projects; a summary of how you anticipate you might contribution to the Institute community; and a statement about how you expect your participation in the program to further the development of Asian studies at your school. Applications, including hard copy of the NEH coversheet, your CV and essay should be mailed to the following address: Asian Studies Development Program (ASDP) Attn: Audrey Minei, ASDP Secretary East West Center, JAB 2134 1601 East-West Road Honolulu, HI 96848-1601 USA For information about the program content, contact the Institute Director, Peter Hershock. For information about application procedures, contact Audrey Minei. Peter Hershock, ASDP Director Phone: +1 808 944-7757 Email: [email protected] Audrey Minei, ASDP Secretary Phone: +1 808 944-7337 Email: [email protected] Website of the Summer Institute: http://www.asdp-buddhistasia.org __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
