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Call for Proposals: ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ World Heritage Undergraduate Research Grant Program

ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Faculty Development

Application Deadline: February 1, 2026

Overview

ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ is pleased to announce the ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ World Heritage Research Grant Program, offering $2,500 awards to support faculty-student collaborative research projects that explore aspects of ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ World Heritage within diverse academic disciplines. This program aims to foster interdisciplinary scholarship while providing meaningful research experiences for undergraduate students.

ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ World Heritage: Outstanding Universal Value

In July 2024, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church Settlements—including Bethlehem (Pennsylvania, USA), Christiansfeld (Denmark), Gracehill (Northern Ireland, UK), and Herrnhut (Germany)—on the World Heritage List as a transnational serial property of outstanding universal value to humanity.

The settlements were inscribed under UNESCO criteria iii and iv, recognizing them as exhibiting exceptional testimony to a living cultural tradition and serving as outstanding examples of architectural and urban planning that illustrate significant stages in human history.

The Outstanding Universal Value of these settlements lies in their democratic organization expressed through humanistic town planning, their buildings designed for common welfare, and their visual and functional connections between individual elements and the landscape setting. 

For the purposes of this grant program, ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ World Heritage encompasses the historical, cultural, spiritual, and material legacy of the ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church (Unitas Fratrum) and its global communities. Projects may focus on historical analysis, contemporary manifestations, or connections between past and present. Interdisciplinary approaches that bridge multiple themes are particularly encouraged.

Program Goals

  • Promote scholarly investigation of ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ heritage, culture, and global impact
  • Strengthen faculty-student research partnerships
  • Support interdisciplinary approaches to understanding ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ contributions to world heritage
  • Enhance student learning through hands-on research experience
  • Generate scholarship that contributes to the broader understanding of ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ legacy

Eligibility

  • Primary Investigator: Full-time ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ faculty member
  • Student Collaborator: Currently enrolled undergraduate student(s)
  • Projects must demonstrate clear connection to ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ World Heritage themes
  • Collaborative nature of faculty-student partnership must be evident

Funding Details

  • Award Amount: $2,500 per project
  • Funding Period: One academic year (extension for a further year available on request)
  • Allowable Expenses: Research materials, travel for archival research, equipment, software, conference presentation costs, student stipends

Application Requirements

  1. Project Proposal (3-4 pages):
    1. Research question and significance
    2. Literature review and theoretical framework
    3. Methodology and timeline
    4. Connection to ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ World Heritage themes
    5. Student learning objectives
  2. Budget Justification (1 page):
    1. Detailed breakdown of proposed expenses
    2. Explanation of how funds will enhance the project
  3. Faculty-Student Partnership Plan (1 page):
    1. Description of student role and responsibilities
    2. Mentorship approach and professional development opportunities
    3. Expected outcomes for student collaborator
  4. Faculty CV (2 pages maximum)
  5. Student academic record (unofficial transcript acceptable)

Example Projects by Discipline

Modern Languages

  • "Preserving ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Linguistic Heritage: Digital Archive of 18th-Century German ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Texts"
    • Digitize and translate historical German documents from ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ archives
    • Create searchable database with linguistic annotations
    • Analyze evolution of religious vocabulary in ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ German communities
  • "ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Missionary Languages: Documentation and Revitalization Efforts"
    • Study ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ contributions to indigenous language preservation
    • Document ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½-created dictionaries and grammars
    • Collaborate with contemporary communities on language revitalization

History

  • "Women's Roles in ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Community Building: A Comparative Study of Bethlehem and Salem"
    • Examine women's economic and social contributions in early ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ settlements
    • Analyze primary sources including diaries, church records, and business documents
    • Create digital exhibition showcasing women's leadership
  • "Global Networks: ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Missions and Cultural Exchange, 1750-1850"
    • Map ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ missionary networks across continents
    • Investigate cultural exchange and adaptation in diverse contexts
    • Develop interactive timeline of ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ global expansion

Art

  • "Sacred Spaces: Architectural Heritage of ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Meetinghouses"
    • Document architectural features of historic ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ buildings
    • Analyze influences of European and American building traditions
    • Create 3D models for preservation and educational purposes
  • "ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Decorative Arts: Continuity and Innovation in Traditional Crafts"
    • Study pottery, textiles, and woodworking traditions
    • Interview contemporary ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ artisans
    • Curate exhibition connecting historical and modern practices

Environmental Sciences

  • "Sustainable Land Stewardship: Environmental Practices in Historic ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Communities"
    • Analyze land use patterns in ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ settlements
    • Study water management and agricultural practices
    • Assess relevance of historical practices for modern sustainability
  • "Botanical Heritage Gardens: Plant Knowledge and Conservation in ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Tradition"
    • Document medicinal and utilitarian plants used by ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ communities
    • Create heritage garden with historically accurate plantings
    • Develop educational materials on traditional ecological knowledge

Computer Science

  • "Digital ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Heritage Platform: Interactive Database of Global ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Sites"
    • Develop web-based platform connecting ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ sites worldwide
    • Implement GIS mapping and virtual tour capabilities
    • Create user-friendly interface for researchers and public education
  • "Machine Learning Analysis of ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Historical Documents"
    • Apply natural language processing to large collections of ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ texts
    • Identify patterns in community decision-making and governance
    • Develop automated transcription tools for handwritten archival materials
  • "Virtual Reality Experience of 18th-Century ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Community Life"
    • Create immersive VR reconstruction of historic Bethlehem or Salem
    • Model daily activities, religious practices, and community interactions
    • Develop educational modules for museums and schools

Health Sciences

  • "Community Health Models: ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Approaches to Public Wellness, 1750-1850"
    • Analyze ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ medical records and health practices
    • Study community-based healthcare delivery systems
    • Compare historical approaches with modern public health principles
  • "ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Medicinal Plant Traditions: Ethnobotanical and Pharmacological Analysis"
    • Document traditional ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ herbal remedies and practices
    • Test efficacy of historically used medicinal plants
    • Create database linking traditional uses with modern scientific findings
  • "Mental Health and Spiritual Care in ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Communities"
    • Examine integration of spiritual and psychological wellness practices
    • Analyze pastoral care records and community support systems
    • Investigate relevance for contemporary holistic health approaches

Economics and Business

  • "Communal Economy in Practice: ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Economic Systems and Resource Management"
    • Analyze the "General Economy" model used in early 18th-century Bethlehem
    • Study decision-making processes, labor allocation, and distribution systems
    • Compare communal economic principles with modern cooperative and social enterprise models
  • "Heritage Tourism Economics: UNESCO Designation Impact on ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Communities"
    • Assess economic impact of World Heritage status on Bethlehem and partner settlements
    • Survey visitor patterns, spending, and community benefits
    • Develop recommendations for sustainable heritage tourism management
  • "ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Craft Industries and Trade Networks: Business Innovation in Historic Context"
    • Document craft guild organization and quality control systems
    • Trace trade relationships between ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ settlements and external markets
    • Analyze entrepreneurship within communal constraints and applications for social business

Evaluation Criteria

  • Scholarly Merit (25%): Research significance and methodological soundness
  • ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Heritage Connection (25%): Clear relationship to ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ World Heritage themes
  • Faculty-Student Collaboration (20%): Evidence of meaningful partnership and student learning
  • Feasibility (15%): Realistic timeline and appropriate budget
  • Innovation (15%): Creative approach and potential for broader impact

Application Process

Submit applications electronically to worldheritage@moravian.edu with subject line "MWH Research Grant - [Last Name]"

Further enquiries can be directed to faullk@moravian.edu*

Application Deadline: February 1, 2026
Award Notification: April 1, 2026
Project Period: September 1, 2026-May 1, 2027

Reporting Requirements

  • Mid-project progress report -- January 15, 2027
  • Final report including student reflection – September 30, 2027
  • Presentation of findings at ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Research Symposium
  • Submission of any publications or creative works resulting from project

This program reflects ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½'s commitment to experiential learning and scholarly excellence while honoring our unique heritage and global perspective.