2026 Plant Humanities Summer Program
The Plant Humanities Summer Program offers interdisciplinary research and training on the cultural significance of plants, combining virtual seminars and hands-on experience with historic gardens and collections.
Funder: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection
Due Dates (Anticipated): February 2027 (full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: No stipend; program covers housing, round-trip travel, some meals, and excursions for the in-person portion.
Summary: Interdisciplinary hybrid summer program exploring plant humanities through seminars, team research, and access to special collections.
Description
The Plant Humanities Summer Program is an annual, interdisciplinary initiative organized by Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection in collaboration with Oak Spring Garden Foundation. The four-week hybrid program consists of two weeks of virtual seminars and lectures, followed by two weeks of in-person activities at Oak Spring Garden Foundation in Virginia. Participants engage with diverse topics such as botany, evolutionary biology, history, literature, and visual arts, and gain unique exposure to historic gardens, rare botanical books, and a Biocultural Farm. Teams work together to research and produce plant narratives for the Plant Humanities Lab, an open-access resource highlighting the cultural significance of plants. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, teamwork, and public engagement in the digital humanities.
