Distant Gatherings: A Text-Case for Digital Manuscript Collaborations

<p>The restrictions imposed by COVID19 have challenged all who&nbsp;work in academia, and particularly those who work with material sources like medieval manuscripts, to reconsider normal practices of research exchange&nbsp;and how they might transfer to the online environment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rather than slavishly replicating previous in-person formats which are invariably less effective when staged virtually, we have the chance instead to&nbsp;think creatively about how to capitalize on the digital medium, to investigate why people already willingly dedicate so much of their time to computer-based forms of communication. By identifying and co-opting what makes some kinds of virtual exchange successful, we can inspire new forms of academic exchange that re-invent rather than mimic older forms of teaching, research, and learning.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>