Crossroads of humanities and tech: Students and scholars delve into unexplored territories, unleashing new potential at the intersection of arts and science.
In the vibrant academic landscape of modern universities, Experimental Humanities programs are making waves by bridging the gap between traditional humanities disciplines and cutting-edge technologies. These innovative initiatives, such as the one at our featured university, are transforming the way we approach research and teaching in the humanities.
At its core, Experimental Humanities seeks to integrate digital tools and methodologies from fields like computer science, engineering, and social sciences, allowing for novel approaches to the analysis and presentation of humanities research. By doing so, it encourages interdisciplinary studies in a manner that fosters cross-departmental collaboration, experimental pedagogy, and the integration of digital methods.
One such example of interdisciplinary research can be found in the work of Charlotte Hooker, a rising third-year student majoring in both neuroscience and dance at our university. As a Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Fellow in Experimental Humanities, Hooker's studies reflect her fascination with movement and the human body. Her research project, originally published in the summer 2025 issue of Forward Thinking magazine, focused on studying body movements between epileptic seizures and psychogenic spells.
To conduct her research, Hooker employed motion capture technology similar to that used for computer-generated imagery in film. By comparing the movements of individuals experiencing epileptic seizures and psychogenic spells, she aimed to shed light on the distinct causes and treatments for each condition. Misdiagnosis of psychogenic seizures can have serious consequences, according to Hooker, and her work seeks to address this issue by providing a more accurate means of distinguishing between the two.
The Experimental Humanities program at our university encourages the fusion of dance, technology, and medical research, embodying the interdisciplinary spirit of the field. In this program, students and faculty alike are eager to connect disciplines in new and exciting ways, all backed by philanthropy.
Hooker emphasized the importance of doctors being able to tell the difference between epileptic seizures and psychogenic spells, stating that it's not just allowed but encouraged to pursue multiple passions at the university. She compared people's movements to fingerprints in a dance class, suggesting that each individual's unique movements can provide valuable insights into their physical and mental states.
In her own words, Charlotte Hooker reimagines the future by changing what's possible, demonstrating the transformative potential of Experimental Humanities. As these programs continue to evolve and grow, we can expect to see even more groundbreaking interdisciplinary research that challenges the status quo and pushes the boundaries of humanities scholarship.
For those seeking specific information about a program or researcher at a particular university, it is recommended to check the university's official website or contact their humanities department directly.
- The Experimental Humanities program at our university, as demonstrated by Charlotte Hooker's research, fosters an interdisciplinary approach that combines science (specifically, neuroscience) with health-and-wellness (focusing on epileptic seizures and psychogenic spells), technology (using motion capture technology), and education-and-self-development (experimental pedagogy and cross-departmental collaboration).
- As more universities adopt Experimental Humanities programs and initiatives, they may find themselves at the forefront of interdisciplinary research that melds science, health-and-wellness, technology, and education-and-self-development, potentially leading to groundbreaking discoveries and innovations that challenge traditional assumptions in the humanities.