Join us in conversation with scholars Jake Benson (John Rylands Research Institute and Library, University of Manchester), Martina Rugiadi (Metropolitan Museum of Art), and Amanda Hannoosh Steinberg (Fine Arts Library, Harvard University) to discuss how to develop productive research methods and how to best utilize relevant resources, such as manuscript repositories, museums, and libraries. The panel discussion will be followed by an open Q&A.

Jake Benson (Ph.D. Leiden University, August 2022) is Research Associate for Persian Collections at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, University of Manchester. Inspired by his training in bookbinding and conservation, he has conducted research on manuscripts held in museums, libraries, and archives in the Middle East, Central Asia, India, and Europe.

Martina Rugiadi is Associate Curator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and co-director of the Towns of the Karakum archaeological project in Turkmenistan. Her research is situated at the intersection of archaeology and art history. Current projects explore craft technologies, spolia, notions of cultural heritage, and implications of collecting.

Amanda Hannoosh Steinberg has been the Visual Resources Librarian for Islamic Art & Architecture at Harvard’s Fine Arts Library since 2018. Prior to that, she was the MENA Librarian at George Washington University, and received her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. Working with researchers in the early stages of their projects is her favorite part of librarianship, and she is glad for this opportunity for discussion!

Friday, April 8, 2022

12 pm EST on Zoom

Register here!

And take the pre-event survey here!