Bass Connections is now accepting proposals for 2022-2023 projects that engage faculty, undergraduates and graduate/professional students in the interdisciplinary exploration of complex societal challenges. The deadline to propose a project is November 1 at 5:00 p.m. Projects may be proposed in relation to one or more of the five, broad, interdisciplinary themes of Bass Connections, or to Bass Connections Open – a channel that invites proposals that align with the model of Bass Connections but otherwise fall outside the parameters of the existing themes. Please refer to the project proposal guidelines on the Bass Connections website for full details, including a schedule for informal office hours where you may consult with BC Director Laura Howes.

We would like to highlight a few aspects of the program that may be of particular interest to faculty in the humanities, arts, and interpretive social sciences:

• Race and Society Theme: Under the rubric of this new theme, Bass Connections seeks interdisciplinary projects exploring how race intersects with various aspects of society and lived experience (e.g., environment, human development, immigration, health and health care, music, art, and literature, history, education, economy, gender and sexuality, work, religion, STEM, policy, community life). Read more about the new theme or contact Tyson Brown, theme leader, to discuss project ideas.
• Bass Connections Open: Designed for projects that don't fit neatly in the existing themes but otherwise align with the Bass model. Projects that have been supported through the Open Channel include: Project Vox, Revaluing Care in the Global Economy, and Fostering Social Integration of Displaced Populations through the Performing Arts. Note that you cannot apply to both Bass Connections Open and a theme.
• Humanities, including new opportunities in Digital Humanities: Funds are available to support projects in any area of research in the humanities. Projects proposed by humanities faculty and students are encouraged. Please contact Christina Chia if interested.
  • New for the 2022-23 cycle: The Digital Humanities Initiative at the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute (DHI@FHI) is looking to support projects with a substantial digital or computational humanities dimension. If interested, contact Victoria Szabo or Amanda Starling Gould. Faculty who wish to propose projects under this rubric (humanities or DH-specific) should apply through any theme or Bass Connections Open and check the Humanities option.
• Arts in the World: This year, in partnership with the Office of the Vice Provost for the Arts, Bass Connections is seeking projects across all themes that display the range of ways in which different forms of art intersect with how we understand, convey and engage with societal challenges. We encourage projects to incorporate external partners and artists.
• Joint Bass Connections/Story+ proposals: Story+ is a summer program in humanities-centered, interdisciplinary, team-based research based at the FHI. A Story+project may take place during the summer before or after a Bass Connections project. To discuss ideas on how to shape a joint proposal, contact Amanda Starling Gould.

Again, we encourage you to read through the extensive proposal guidelines on the Bass Connections site.