Paul Dilley, associate professor of ancient Mediterranean Religions at the University of Iowa, and the University of Iowa Erling B. “Jack” Holtsmark Associate Professor in the Classics was named a 2023 National Endowment for the Humanities fellow. Dilley’s NEH Grant is specifically a Digital Humanities Advancement Grant titled “Communicating Revealed Texts: Best-Practices for Born-Digital Editions Using Enhanced Imaging. ”He is the PI, and will be working with co-PIs James Brusuelas and Brent Seales of the University of Kentucky, as well as a group of 12 other scholars, to produce a white paper describing the desired aspects of making editions of ancient texts that have been damaged, and are only visible with advanced imaging processes, such as multispectral or X-ray tomographic imaging. The foundation awards this prestigious recognition to scholars who have shown tremendous dedication to their research and the field of humanities, and whose projects embody terrific research and rigorous analysis. Dilley, whose College of Liberal Arts and Sciences appointments are in Religious Studies and Classics departments, says he is excited to receive this award and will use the fellowship to determine a way to publish damaged ancient manuscripts that have been photographed with advanced technology. “There’s a lot of great interdisciplinary work going on in the humanities right now, and the support offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities has a tremendous positive impact on humanities research nationwide,” Dilley explains. Any talk or attention aimed towards the humanities is good, Dilley adds, because it shows current students and future students all of the work that is being done in the field. “It also helps communicate to undergraduates all of the innovative approaches that are being considered in humanities departments,” Dilley says. Dilley will use the research he conducts to improve his teaching and is eager to share and develop the great work being done in his field.
Wednesday, November 1, 2023