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Catalogue des formations supérieures aérospatiales

Mankind and the Moon. Mining 300 years of Space Exploration

Détails de la formation

Objectifs : The UNIVERSEH course “Mankind and the Moon. Mining 300 years of Space Exploration” explores the cultural history of space travel and more generally the moon as a cultural reference point in Early Modern, Modern and Contemporary History. Students will explore this topic based on digitised Early Modern Encyclopedias as well as Modern and Contemporary newspaper collections. Alongside lectures on the topic, student-led teams will design small-scale research projects and employ fundamental techniques for the semantic enrichment and data-driven exploration of their sources. In addition, students will explore novel techniques for content presentation in virtual worlds in collaboration with students of the BA Animation Studies at the University of Luxembourg.

The proposed seminar pursues a decidedly interdisciplinary approach, fostering collaboration across various fields to enable students to employ digital methods for the study and critical analysis of the multifaceted discourses of space exploration.

The seminar is structured into three main blocks, beginning with an introductory phase in Düsseldorf, where students receive theoretical grounding and hands-on training in using early modern encyclopaedias and digitised newspapers as historical sources. This phase emphasises the formation of interdisciplinary teams, leveraging complementary language skills to facilitate diverse research perspectives.

The second block consists of hybrid meetings featuring lectures on premodern voyages to the moon, space travel in the modern era, and digital humanities research methods. These sessions are complemented by practical training in digital tools such as Voyant Tools and the Impresso web app, enhancing students’ skills in text analysis and digital research methodologies.

In the concluding block held in Luxembourg, students will finalise and present their projects in a virtual world based on the Unreal game engine, incorporating insights from lectures, digital humanities tools, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The seminar aims to equip students with a critical understanding of the cultural history of the moon and space travel, bolstered by project management skills including science communication, writing, and text analysis.

Overall, “Mankind and the Moon. Mining 300 years of Space Exploration” not only offers a critical introduction to cultural and digital history but also contributes to the establishment of a continuous class format for critical space studies. This innovative seminar framework encourages students to continually apply a critical lens to their (inter-)disciplinary training, promoting a holistic understanding of the cultural significance of the moon and space travel throughout history.

Universities involved:
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
University of Luxembourg

Prérequis : Advanced Bachelor students (3rd – 6th semester) of the historical sciences, philologies as well as students in digital humanities, media studies, and (trans-)cultural studies

Durée et modalités : 11 October 2024 to 13 December 2024
Online 6 hybrid meetings, 14h-16.30h (including guest lectures): 18./25.10 + 8.11.; 22./29.11 + 6.12.
October 2024 in Düsseldorf, December 2024 in Luxembourg, exact dates to be announced
3 ECTS Credits

Site web dédié : https://universeh.eu/studies/courses/

Domaines

  • Sciences humaines et sociales

Thèmes

  • 20 - Santé et Sociétal : Santé, Médecine Spatiale, Biomédical, Génie Biologique, Risques, Défense, Sécurité des biens et des personnes, Tourisme, Politiques
  • 22 - Exploration de L'Espace, Sciences, Astronomie, Astrophysique, Géophysique