Virtual Conference Roundtable 2: Research Outside the Academy: Building an Inclusive Environment

These Roundtables are intended as forums for those who are interested in proactively developing real solutions to these problems. We view them as working groups to convene and begin to outline practical steps for solutions that will be taken up via future collaborations to truly Open the Ancient World to all.

The fields of Ancient Studies consist of a wonderful, tight-knit community of scholars. Though they are spread out across the world, scholars see each other regularly at conferences and symposia held by the various learned societies and departments. However, this ivory tower has strict boundaries, imposed by the limited number of academic positions available and by the attitude that to be a “scholar” one must be directly part of an academic institution. Though we work to expand Ancient Studies fields, this model for the self-definition of the “community of scholars” and the attendant attitude of exclusivity must change. Ancient Studies can only truly grow beyond its current bounds when there is a home within this community for scholars who earn their livings in other occupations. SASA and Digital Hammurabi envision a New Ancient Studies in which all are not only welcome, but also actively incorporated into the study of the deep past of all places and cultures.

Please join us and bring your ideas so we can pool our efforts and make real change.

The Roundtable will be livestreamed, though only participants in the Zoom meeting will be able to engage in the discussion. Therefore, pre-registration is necessary to participate.

There will be several mini-presentations to help steer the conversation.