Call for Papers

Deutsch | Español | Français | Italiano

Digital Humanities 2023: Collaboration as opportunity

The Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations (ADHO) invites submission of proposals for its annual conference, July 10-14, 2023 at the University of Graz, Austria.

Theme

As digital humanists, we develop methods, tools and services to study the material and intellectual manifestations of the human record. We are also a strong community which relies on collaboration and multidisciplinarity as the cornerstones of our work. DH2023 at the University of Graz will be the first face-to-face ADHO conference since the COVID pandemic. We are looking forward to exploring the state of the art in DH and related disciplines, reconnecting with colleagues and introducing new scholars to the field with a particular geographic focus on Southeastern Europe. Less than 30 miles from the border to Slovenia, the city of Graz is the Austrian gateway to the Balkans, facilitating a lively scientific, economic and cultural exchange with South-Eastern Europe. Both the overarching conference theme — “Collaboration as Opportunity” — and this particular regional context should help us rethink what it means to work together in both physical and virtual spaces and, more broadly, what it means to do humanistic research digitally against the background of global economic, political and environmental crises. Is there a revolutionary potential to what we do?
For a short reflection on the topic, see [reflections on revolutions]

Submit a Proposal: https://www.conftool.pro/dh2023/
(Registration and Submission will open September 6, 2022)  

Deadline for Submissions: 4 November 2022 Hawaii Standard Time (GMT-10)

Notification of Acceptances: 8 March 2023

[Download the Call for Papers]

Submission types

The theme of the 2023 conference is “Collaboration as Opportunity.” We particularly invite proposals that relate to the South-Eastern Europe theme, but encourage submissions from all who work in all Digital Humanities disciplines, methodologies, and pedagogies. With respect for the significant number of languages in which DH is conducted, the organizers have determined that the conference will be conducted in English so as to include the work of as many scholars as possible.

Posters (abstract 500-750 words) 

Poster proposals may present work on any relevant topic, or offer demonstrations of projects, tools and software in any stage of development. Poster presentations are intended to be interactive with the opportunity to exchange ideas among attendees.  Posters are in no way considered lesser forms of presentation at the DH conference and are subject to the same strict peer review as other presentation types, and submissions in this category are strongly encouraged.

Long presentations (20 minutes; abstract 750-1000 words)

Proposals for long presentations should deal with substantial or completed research, report the development of significant new methodologies or digital resources, and/or present rigorous theoretical, speculative, or critical discussions. Individual papers will be allocated 20 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for questions.

Proposals relating to the development of new computing methodologies or digital resources should indicate how the methods are applied to research and/or teaching in the humanities and what their impact has been in formulating and addressing research questions. They should also include critical assessments of their application in the humanities as well as of the computing methodologies used.

Short presentations (10 minutes; abstract 500-750 words)

Short presentations are intended to be dynamic 10-minute presentations appropriate for reporting on experiments or works in progress or for describing tools or software in development. Short paper sessions seek to open dialogues among scholars working on related topics.  Short papers are in no way considered lesser forms of presentation at the DH conference and are subject to the same strict peer review as other presentation types, and submissions in this category are strongly encouraged.

Panels (90 minutes; abstract 300-500 words for overview + 250 words for each paper) 

Panels should focus on a single theme and be conceived as 90-minute sessions of four to six speakers. Since the conference offers an important occasion to attract new scholars from diverse backgrounds to specific research areas, those submitting proposals for panels are advised to ensure that the constitution of the panel reflects the constitution of the field and/or research topic that is being addressed and ADHO’s expressed commitment to diversity, or explicitly address problems in those areas. In case the proposer’s own network is too limited, the Program Committee can advise them on whom to contact to broaden the panel.

Pre-conference workshops and tutorials (half or full day; abstract 1500 words)

*Workshops/Tutorials are normally half-day intensive introductions to specific techniques, software packages or theoretical approaches with a small number of participants. Workshop proposals may take many forms, including proposals with a full slate of speakers and presentations, as well as proposals to issue an independent call for papers from which submissions will be chosen. Participants in pre-conference workshops and tutorials will be expected to register for the full conference as well as pay a small additional fee. Proposals should provide the following information:

  • Title and brief description of the content or topic and its relevance to the digital humanities community;
  • Full contact information for all tutorial instructors or workshop leaders, including a one-paragraph statement summarizing their research interests and areas of expertise;
  • Description of target audience and expected number of participants (based, if possible, on past experience); and
  • Special requirements for technical support.

Additionally, tutorial proposals should include:

  • A brief outline showing that the core content can be covered in a half-day (approximately 3 hours, plus breaks). In exceptional cases, full-day tutorials may be supported.

And workshop proposals must include:

  • Intended length and format of the workshop (minimum half-day; maximum full-day);  and
  • If the workshop is to have its own call for participation, a deadline and date for notification of acceptances, and a list of individuals who have agreed to be part of the workshop’s Program Committee.

As with Multi Paper Panel proposals, those submitting proposals for pre-conference workshops and tutorials are advised to ensure that the constitution of the workshop reflects the constitution of the field and/or research topic that is being addressed and ADHO’s expressed commitment to diversity, or explicitly address problems in those areas.

All proposals should include relevant citations to sources in the appropriate literatures. Citations are not included in the word count. Proposals should be submitted in English. 

ADHO’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) will be holding topical pre-conference meetings that will undergo separate review via SIG organizers. Please contact SIG organizers before submitting a workshop or tutorial proposal on a duplicative SIG topic.

DH2023 will use the open peer review process. Authors and reviewers will know each other’s identity. The review process will include an opportunity for authors to respond to the reviews.
Submissions will be evaluated based on:

  • Reviewers’ general recommendation for acceptance 
  • Is the submission an innovative contribution to DH subject area(s)? 
  • Is the state of the art adequately presented (including a bibliography)? 
  • Is the research methodology comprehensively described and adequately reflected upon? 
  • Is the submission formulated in a comprehensible manner? 
  • Does the submission meet all formal criteria (abstract length, citation style, formatting etc.)? 

The Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations (ADHO) is dedicated to creating a safe, respectful, and collegial conference environment for the benefit of everyone who attends, and for the advancement of research and scholarship in fields supported by our constituent organizations.
See the full ADHO Digital Humanities Conference Code of Conduct.
Authors and reviewers will be asked to follow the ADHO guidelines.

Bursaries for early-career and emerging scholars 

The Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations will offer a limited number of bursaries for early-career scholars presenting at the conference. Application guidelines will appear on the ADHO website early in 2023. Bursaries are only awarded in-person presentations.