Humanities and Humanistic Social Science Research

The HSS (Humanities and Humanistic Social Science) labs program was created to provide research experience for students and expand and advance research for faculty in the humanities and social sciences while expanding understanding of research in these fields and allowing for more collaboration and delegation across campus. These labs create the opportunity for collaborative, public-facing research.
The Basics
How does it work?
HSS labs allow faculty to work with multiple cohorts of students on projects that are in progress year-round. The labs allow students to engage in research topics that hold particular interest and importance to them, to learn a variety of technical skills within their disciplines, to teach those skills to peers, and to develop a host of the ‘soft skills’ necessary to manage and coordinate large, complex projects, both at Smith and beyond. Students receive either a salary for participating in the labs over the summer or academic credit during the year.
How did the labs start?
The HSS labs program in the summer of 2021, Smith College committed to supporting a pilot program of labs in the Humanities and Humanistic Social Sciences (HSS Labs). Smith faculty launched six individual labs over the 2021–22 academic year and added an additional eight labs for 2022–23. The HSS labs hold a series of monthly meetings where students present the research from their labs. These meetings are open to the public and we welcome the Smith community to attend and become involved in the program.