Experiment in Community

We are the UVA Library's community lab for the practice of experimental scholarship in all fields, informed by digital humanities, spatial technologies, & cultural heritage thinking.

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About Us

The Scholars’ Lab is an interdisciplinary research lab for critical, creative, and anti-oppressive explorations of the intersections of technology and culture. We offer mentoring, collaboration, and supportive space for anyone curious about pushing scholarly boundaries through creative, computational research practice. While much of our work deals with cultural and humanities questions, we welcome and routinely collaborate with all disciplines. Part of the Library’s Digital Humanities Center, our staff offer deep expertise in digital humanities, computer and information science, spatial technologies, maker, and cultural heritage approaches. Our international scholarly leadership lets us connect UVA colleagues to the forefront of digital and experimental scholarship, collaborators, and opportunities.

>>> Our Mission

Decorative photo of Scholars' Lab staff and students scanning a cultural heritage artifact
3D scanning cultural heritage artifacts.

Our Work

Curious? Please get in touch — absolutely no prior experience or fully formed ideas needed! Email us at scholarslab@virginia.edu with questions, or to schedule a teaching or research consultation. Our staff has particular strengths in:

>>> Our Expertise

Decorative photo of several inked linoleum blocks from printmaking in SLab's makerspace
Printmaking in Scholars' Lab's makerspace.

Using the Lab & Makerspace

THE LAB

The Scholars’ Lab includes staff offices, co-working areas, an event space, a VR immersion space, and data processing workstations. Appointments are encouraged if you want to meet a particular staff member or request access to specific equipment, though the lab space itself is open whenever Shannon Library is open.

>>> Using the Lab & Makerspace

Decorative photo of a student writing on a monitor displaying other students' answers to 'What do you love about Shannon (Library building)?', where previous students have written 'Scholar Lab <3' and
Friendly community space for digital & experimental scholarship.

THE LAB'S MAKERSPACE

Our Makerspace supports tinkering and experimentation with electronics, fabric arts, 3D printing, laser cutting, and more. Open to everyone, we specialize in applications and research questions in the humanities and arts. The Makerspace staff provides consultation and instruction during open hours, or by appointment. Drop in, or send inquiries to slabmakerspace@virginia.edu.

>>> Explore Our Makerspace

Decorative photo of Scholars' Lab's makerspace full of makers
Our makerspace is open to all.

Critical Digital Humanities

We use “critical” DH here to mean purposeful engagements with the field and community of DH scholarship, including its writings, theory, and international community. Much of the lab’s work draws on our strong DH background (including for non-DH projects and people!) and many of our staff identify as digital humanists and maintain a high level of engagement in external, international DH leadership, service, and community.

>>> Critical DH

Decorative photo of Scholars' Lab fellows working with staff outdoors on a location-based augmented reality research project
Using augmented reality to contextualize race and historical place.

Digital Humanities Code + Design

We provide research and teaching consultation on a variety of digital humanities concepts, approaches, and tools, including digital collections & exhibitions, data collection and management, machine learning, text analysis, and more. Our particular strengths lie in the critical pedagogical and scholarly application of those technologies for the humanities.

>>> DH Code + Design

Decorative screenshot of Scholars' Lab fellows James Ascher and Sarah Berkowitz's digital textual research project completed with the lab
Exploring literary texts through code and visualization.

Spatial Technologies

We've got experts in mapping, GIS data, cultural heritage laser scanning & preservation, augmented & virtual reality, and other spatial approaches (including ArcGIS StoryMaps) for representing our world across space + time. Contact us at spatial@virginia.edu to schedule an individual consultation or course instruction session.

>>> Spatial Technologies

Decorative photo of the GIS Sandbox in use: a projector displays bands of colored light on top of a topographic formation of sand to approximate a topographic map in 3D
Investigating & preserving the spatial past & present with digital approaches to mapping, artifacts, and historic architecture.

Fellowships + Training

We support the work of emerging and advanced scholars. In addition to our general consultations, we offer three graduate fellowship programs that provide students with the time, space, and mentorship necessary to discover, explore, and build. We also offer a wide variety of opportunities for faculty and students to gain training and experience as digital humanists.

>>> Opportunities

Decorative photo of Scholars' Lab fellows posing in the library
Collaborative research fellowships, including for the next generation of digital scholars.