Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, Exploration, and Scientific Innovation

LINK TO WEBPAGE: HTTPS://BLOGS.LOC.GOV/KLUGE/2021/09/ANNOUNCING-A-CALL-FOR-APPLICATIONS-TO-THE-BARUCH-S-BLUMBERG-NASA-LIBRARY-OF-CONGRESS-CHAIR-IN-ASTROBIOLOGY-EXPLORATION-AND-SCIENTIFIC-INNOVATION/

NOTE: THE BLUMBERG CHAIR IS OPEN TO APPLICANTS FROM A RANGE OF DISCIPLINES IN THE HUMANITIES, SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES. PLEASE SEE THE WEBSITE FOR THE FULL DESCRIPTION.

APPLY TO THE BARUCH S. BLUMBERG NASA/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CHAIR IN ASTROBIOLOGY, EXPLORATION, AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION

In order to apply for the Blumberg Chair we ask for three pieces of information:

• A complete CV including your contact information and publications.
• A brief statement of proposed research (up to 1500 words). In your statement, please include one paragraph that explains why the Library of Congress is the appropriate venue for your research and any particular collections you might use.
• A description of proposed outreach activities (Up to 1000 words).

The Chair is in residence at the Kluge Center, in the Library of Congress. The Library is at the heart of serious conversation among scholars and policymakers, and the Kluge Center’s distinctive mission is to bridge the gap between scholarship and the policymaking community. As such, the Blumberg Chair holds a highly visible, public role. The Library is particularly interested in scholars who are able and willing to speak beyond their disciplinary home in a way that is accessible and compelling to a broad audience.

Please note that in addition to the guidelines specific to this chair, the Kluge Center evaluates all applications on the basis of three criteria, which are: intellectual accomplishment, the ability to communicate ideas to a broad audience, and their relevance to the challenges faced by democracies in the 21st century.

Workshop and outreach activities typically fall in two categories. We ask that you propose one of each.

1. Conversations geared to a generalist, public audience. These could be either recorded conversations or live events. Below are a couple past examples:

Earthrise: Celebrating the Photograph that Changed (How We View) the World

Artificial Intelligence in the Search for Life in the Universe

1. A conference or convening for specialist audiences. These conferences have generally been thematic in nature and have sought to advance the field of astrobiology, exploration, scientific innovation, and related areas by convening experts.

Please include these three components (CV, Statement of Proposed Research, and Description of Proposed Outreach Activities) in one PDF document and submit them by email to Sophia Zahner (szah@loc.gov) by October 15, 2021. Selections will be made by February 2022 for an appointment beginning October 1, 2022.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Research Areas

Research on astrobiology, exploration, and innovation, with emphasis on their societal implications.

Eligibility

Open to distinguished scholars worldwide.

Stipend

$13,500 per month (up to 12 months).