DISCO CO(LAB)
DISCO CO(LAB) is a new series of inter-institutional collaborative research projects hosted by the Black Communication and Technology (BCaT) Lab at the University of Maryland.
We are seeking collaborators from across the U.S. and beyond to participate in DISCO CO(LAB). Summer microgrants will be awarded for participation.
Running from 2024-2027, DISCO CO(LAB) will fund and support research teams to develop digital humanities projects that center speculation and optimism about race and disability. Each project aims to produce outputs that bridge the gap between traditional academic research and community engaged digital projects (e.g., podcasts, digital maps, data visualizations, oral history projects).
Each DISCO CO(LAB) team will work together for an academic year and will be composed of an intergenerational group of scholars and creatives, inclusive of artists, industry workers, undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty. DISCO CO(LAB) sessions are weekly and will operate in a hybrid format. Each research project will conclude with a multi-day convening for the team to finalize their project’s deliverables (e.g., conference presentations, public scholarship, journal articles, creative and interdisciplinary works).
The BCaT Lab plans to host the following DISCO CO(LAB) projects (topics subject to change):
Beginning in Fall 2024: Black Homeplaces, a project that harnesses VR/AR to recreate the ever-changing sites of the Black homeplace and Black placemaking practices across the African diaspora. One of the central outputs of the project will be an interactive XR exhibition of an archetypical Black home, including oral histories, artistic renderings, essays and more. This collaboration will be led by Dr. Rianna Walcott, the Associate Director of the BCaT lab and an Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Maryland.
Beginning in Winter 2025: Automation and Black Joy, a project which will study AI’s impact on youth and social media.
Beginning in Fall 2026: Black Queer Soundscapes, a project that will trace legacies of cultural sound and produce a student-led podcast series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join DISCO CO(LAB)?
Anyone who is interested! This is inclusive of artists, creatives, academics, community members, and more, at any career stage/level of study and at any institution. The BCaT Lab will provide training, support, and mentorship for undergraduate and graduate students throughout the research process. Options for international participation are available.
Where will DISCO CO(LAB) take place?
Events will be held in the BCaT Lab (University of Maryland, Skinner 3115) with an option to attend virtually via Zoom. The Zoom link is the same for all BCaT Lab events.
What is the timeline for DISCO CO(LAB)?
Each DISCO CO(LAB) project will run over the course of an academic year (two semesters) and conclude with a hybrid retreat for collaborators to finalize deliverables. Opportunities for longer participation are available. For the Black Homeplaces project, we will begin in Fall 2024 with a weekly reading group and start regular co-working, collaborative writing, and workshops in Spring 2025. The Black Homeplaces project hopes to host a retreat and deliver outputs in the Summer or Fall of 2025.
What does participation in DISCO CO(LAB) look like?
Collaborators will regularly attend a weekly DISCO CO(LAB) session to engage in communal learning, participate in co-working, and attend practical application workshops throughout the academic year. Each session will be 1-2 hours.
What are potential outputs and deliverables for DISCO CO(LAB)?
Potential outputs include artistic and creative collaborations (e.g., physical and digital renderings, audiovisual materials such as short films), essays, papers and stories (e.g., conference papers, public scholarship, journal articles), and digital humanities projects (e.g., interactive AR renderings, podcasts, and websites).
What will collaborators receive out of participating in DISCO CO(LAB)?
Collaborators will develop research/artistic outputs with a likeminded community and receive academic development, mentorship and networking opportunities, and affiliation with the broader DISCO Network. The BCaT Lab is also happy to offer a number of microgrants for the Black Homeplaces project in Summer 2025 - applications for microgrant funding will open in December 2024. Individuals who regularly attend DISCO CO(LAB) sessions will receive priority for microgrant funding.
I am interested in joining DISCO CO(LAB). How do I get involved?
Beginning in Fall 2024, prospective collaborators should regularly attend BCaT Lab Bookclub to begin engaging with relevant art exhibitions, films, and readings, learn more about the project, and build community with other DISCO CO(LAB) collaborators. BCaT Bookclub is hosted weekly on Wednesdays from 12 PM - 1 PM at the BCaT Lab space at the University of Maryland (Skinner 3115) and on Zoom. Find out more on the BCaT Lab’s website.
I am interested in learning more. Who should I contact?
For questions about DISCO CO(LAB), please contact Rianna Walcott, Associate Director of the BCaT Lab, at rwalcott@umd.edu.
