Humanities and the Sunshine State

2015- One-week sessions.

Partnerships: UF Center for the Humanities. Funded by Rothman Endowment of the Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere, Florida Humanities Council (grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities), UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The Humanities and the Sunshine state program introduces students to humanities research.  Through practicing archival study, oral history, digital curation, archaeological excavation, ethical critique, and textual interpretation, students will learn what the humanities do, and how the lessons they generate build an informed citizenry.  Through engaging and hands on activities, participants will explore how water has shaped the past and present of Florida, and how our interactions with water today will shape the future of our state.

Floridians have an extensive relationship with water. From the food we eat, to our favorite pastimes, to the industries that flourish here, to our changing and diverse population, Florida’s most significant issues are tied to water. Through an introduction to how various humanities disciplines study water, Humanities and the Sunshine State will explore contemporary political topics such as tourism, food justice, aquifer sustainability, industrial growth, and race relations.

As a participant in the HSS program you will:

• Visit special collections and handle historical documents
• Go on field trips to Florida’s springs, Cedar Key, the Santa Fe River, and Rosewood
• Experience hands-on demonstrations of digital archiving and recording oral traditions
• Go on tours of the UF campus and near-by North Florida cultural landscapes
• Attend a UF Admissions Q&A panel with Pre-Law, Pre-Med and Humanities
• Attend social activities on the UF campus

Participants will interact with expert faculty, staff, and graduate students from the University of Florida, Santa Fe College, and local cultural organizations to explore how theoretical ideas and methods from the humanities disciplines (history, classics, archaeology, religion, literature, women’s studies, philosophy, and more) shape our practical experiences of Florida’s waters, and vice versa.

This program, organized by the Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere in collaboration with the Center for Precollegiate Education and Training at the University of Florida and in partnership with the Florida Humanities Council, will provide selected high school students with a meaningful college experience that capitalizes upon the unique history and environment of North Central Florida.  Social and leadership development activities provide a well-rounded and fun experience for participants.

Motivated students interested in learning beyond their traditional high school classroom are encouraged to apply. All high school academic concentrations and career interests are welcome.