Research

These areas are not meant to be exclusive; rather, they represent overlaps, directions, and connections among research interests, with the aim of leading to future collaborations and new research initiatives. Rather than fitting existing research into bubbles, we want to find connecting points.

1. Histories and Futures of Emerging Media
2. Grassroots Creativity, Play, & Learning
3. Health, Access, and Sustainable Media Futures
4. Urban Mobilities, Justice & Civic Engagement
5. Mapping, Social Networks & Data Justice
6. (Mis)Information & News Storytelling

Monthly Research Jams

Monthly research jams are informal research meetings that will happen once a month at lunch time. The goal is to discuss and share experiences of pressing and relevant issues around the Center’s research strategic areas with practical outcomes. For example, discussions might focus on “using AI tools for creative research”, “meaningfully engaging with local communities”,  or “developing new methods for engaged research”.

• Jams can be planned by the directors, affiliated and core faculty, or PhD students.
• The format is free (informal chat, round tables, lecture), as long as it focuses on one of the Center’s strategic research areas.
• The organizer is responsible for inviting speakers, participants and promoting the event with the support of Center staff.
• To be held at the 3rd Floor at Snell Library, space adjacent to the Center.
• The center will provide lunch.

Affiliated Members Meetings

Once a semester, the Center will host a meeting with core faculty members with the goals of:

• Learning about current faculty projects
• Updating members on center activities an
• Getting ideas for future research activities.

Each year in the fall, the center will distribute competitively awarded mini-grants (up to $2,500 each) for faculty and post-docs developing research in one of the Center’s strategic research areas.

Eligibility: Mini-Grants are intended to help tenured and tenure-track faculty to forge new and cutting edge interdisciplinary collaborations that target the strategic research areas supported by the Center. Non-tenure track faculty and post-docs may apply, as long as they are employed by Northeastern for the duration of the award period. We encourage proposals that connect junior and senior faculty, and/or scholars working in different disciplines.

CFP: Each year, the Center will define a few strategic areas and will request proposals that align with those areas. Call for mini-grants proposals will be announced every year in January on the Center’s website and social media channels. Awards will be announced in March/April during the Center’s annual event. This year’s strategic research areas are:

• Histories and Futures of Emerging Media
• Grassroots Creativity, Play, & Learning
• Health, Access, and Sustainable Media Futures
• Urban Mobilities, Justice & Civic Engagement
• Mapping, Social Networks & Data Justice
• (Mis)Information & News Storytelling

Proposals should include the following components:

• 1000 words description of the research project including:
  • project intentions, originality, methods and goals;
  • relationship to the Center’s mission and goals, and
  • proposed deliverables.
• A one-page timeline for completing the proposed activities
• A budget for the proposed use of grant funds*.

*Awarded funds may cover: RA work, travel expenses. Funds cannot be used towards salary compensation.

Seed grants will be selected on a competitive process by a committee composed by the Center Director, Associate Director and two core faculty members. Proposals that clearly articulate the following will have a better chance of being selected:

• Fit with the Center’s mission, goals and strategic research areas.
• Feasibility of completing deliverables on time.

Selected projects will be required to:

• Upon receiving the grant, present the project’s idea to the Center’s core and affiliated faculty to get feedback on future developments.
• Participate in Center events and meetings as ad-hoc affiliated faculty.
• Organize one monthly research jam upon request.
• Showcase the outcome of grant work (deliverables) at the Center’s yearly event.