Announcing 2019 – 2020 THI Research Clusters

The Humanities Institute is thrilled to award four new research clusters for the 2019 – 2020 year. This cohort combines diverse interests in: the human body and its presence and absence in art; feminist futures in the Indian Ocean; drug histories and futures; and neo-authoritarism, a continuation of last year’s research cluster on “after neoliberalism.”

THI research clusters enable groups of faculty and graduate students from a range of fields to explore new ideas. We fund clusters for up to three years, allowing experimental collaborations and projects to grow into self-sustaining initiatives. Interdisciplinary research breaks down silos so that we can create the dynamic connections across disciplines that are essential today. Clusters will begin the year planning seminars, conferences, workshops, visiting scholarships, and other events that will benefit the UC Santa Cruz campus at large.

See the list of previous years’ clusters here. Congratulations to our newest cohort!

2019 – 2020 THI Research Clusters

Drug Histories and Futures
PI: Ben Breen (History). Affiliated faculty: Amanda Smith (Literature), Matt O’Hara (History)

Feminist Futures in the Indian Ocean
PIs: Vilashini Cooppan (Literature), Nidhi Mahajan (Anthropology)

Neo-Authoritarianism
PIs: Banu Bargu (History of Consciousness), Massimiliano Tomba (History of Consciousness)

The Body, (Anti)Narrative, and Corporeal Creative Practices
PIs: Micah Perks (Literature), Irene Lusztig (Film and Digital Media), Megan Moodie (Anthropology)