WashULibraries
wul_bb_thatcampstl_2013_10
Photo credit: Brian Benton/Washington University Libraries
A motley crew of humanists, technologists, librarians, archivists, programmers—and anyone with an interest in humanities and/or technology—gathered in Olin Library and the Danforth University Center (DUC) on Saturday, Nov. 9, for THATCampSTL, St. Louis's first-ever rendition of The Humanities and Technology Camp. Described as an "unconference," the open event draws its inspiration and general format from previous THATCamps aimed at attracting interested people with differing and overlapping perspectives and skill sets to a flexible, in-depth day of conversation, brainstorming, and networking. In contrast to more traditional academic conference models, THATCamps are comprised of short sessions proposed on the spot and decided on democratically among the participants.
"The idea of an 'unconference' was that sometimes when one goes to a conference, the best part of it turns out to be a serendipitous hallway conversation," says Douglas Knox, assistant director of the Humanities Digital Workshop on campus. "Could we bring people together to try to acknowledge the value of that serendipity? The best THATCamp sessions in my experience have been the ones where people have found a way to share something that they are passionate about, or have stretched themselves beyond their areas of greatest familiarity."
wul_bb_thatcampstl_2013_10
Photo credit: Brian Benton/Washington University Libraries
A motley crew of humanists, technologists, librarians, archivists, programmers—and anyone with an interest in humanities and/or technology—gathered in Olin Library and the Danforth University Center (DUC) on Saturday, Nov. 9, for THATCampSTL, St. Louis's first-ever rendition of The Humanities and Technology Camp. Described as an "unconference," the open event draws its inspiration and general format from previous THATCamps aimed at attracting interested people with differing and overlapping perspectives and skill sets to a flexible, in-depth day of conversation, brainstorming, and networking. In contrast to more traditional academic conference models, THATCamps are comprised of short sessions proposed on the spot and decided on democratically among the participants.
"The idea of an 'unconference' was that sometimes when one goes to a conference, the best part of it turns out to be a serendipitous hallway conversation," says Douglas Knox, assistant director of the Humanities Digital Workshop on campus. "Could we bring people together to try to acknowledge the value of that serendipity? The best THATCamp sessions in my experience have been the ones where people have found a way to share something that they are passionate about, or have stretched themselves beyond their areas of greatest familiarity."