Students Display Innovative Work at Digital Humanities Showcase
The Interdisciplinary Research and Informatics (IRIS) Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville hosted its fall Digital Humanities Student Showcase on Thursday, Dec. 8 in Lovejoy Library, celebrating students’ innovative work using digital tools and methods.
“The digital humanities is an exciting field for research often with the goal of communicating complex topics to broad audiences,” said Jessica DeSpain, PhD, professor in the Department of English Language and Literature and co-director of the IRIS Center. “We want to provide those broader audiences for students and help celebrate their accomplishments.”
Various programs were included in the showcase, including the SIUE Successful Communities Collaborative, Madison County Historical Society, Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA), Realizing Inclusive Student Engagement (RISE-DH), and Community-Oriented Digital Engagement Scholars (CODES).
The RISE-DH and CODES programs are new in the IRIS center this year. The showcase was the first time the students involved in the programs were able to present their work.
“This group is special because we are the first group of RISE-DH students,” said TamaJae Graham, a senior sociology major from East St. Louis. “As an all-Black cohort, we developed a place of community, support and openness. We were excited to share what we learned during the showcase.”
Graham, along with other RISE-DH scholars, presented on E-stories. The initiative includes telling the story of East St. Louis in ethical and positive ways through various modes of technology.
"The goal is to allow narratives from East St. Louisans to be told in a respectful manner that keeps the voices of the citizens alive, and not overshadowed by the overly critical, negative stereotypes pushed about the city that are a product of systemic racism,” said Graham. “We understand that East St. Louis is a beautiful place that is healing from traumatic events of the past, and we want to represent the city and its people in the best light.”
“Our research team presented on our work with the National Council of Negro Women,” added Celestina Guerrero, a first-year psychology major and CODES scholar from Granite City. “An opportunity like this is helping me get used to being in front of large crowds while presenting.”
Students will have another opportunity to present their work at showcase next spring.
For more information about the IRIS Center, visit iris.siue.edu/.
Photos: One of the student groups presents their work at the Digital Humanities Showcase.
Celestine Guerrero, first year psychology major and CODES scholar, presents on her groups work involving the National Council of Negro Women.
