Application for Fieldwork Excursion in the United States (Midwest: Columbus, Ohio) 2027

This 2027 field excursion will take place from mid-June through mid-July and will be based in Central Ohio in the United States. This timing will coincide with Pride celebrations, Juneteenth, and Independence Day. 

The state of Ohio, sometimes a symbolic stand-in for the nowhere and nondescript in US-American society, is nonetheless a complex mixture of some of the patchwork diversity that characterizes the US: It is a state that until recently predicted presidential election outcomes, was ground zero of the opioid epidemic, and is somewhat defined by a history of abolitionist organizing. Columbus, the city where we will be based, both reflects these dynamics – sometimes called Test Market USA, as it has been seen to demographically represent the nation – and spurns them, as one of the fastest growing cities in the US.

It is the transformation occurring amidst Columbus’s rapid urban expansion that will provide the scope of our excursion’s inquiries: What are the drivers of the current regimes of urban growth in the city and what earlier booms and busts preceded them? Spurts in urban growth and investment are often the result of industrial expansion and city planning strategies; what priorities and investments has the city made or invited in order to cultivate recent expansions? What consequences have such growth and growth strategies had on urban cultures, demographic composition, urban form, and livability? What digital imaginaries and mythmaking curate the experiences and narratives around the growth trajectories of Columbus and how might digital technologies anchor, influence, or otherwise relate to the city’s expansions?

Columbus also happens to be the site of the oldest Oktoberfest in the United States and has several still-running German-American cultural institutions that cater to those of Germanic heritage. The city thus presents an interesting geography for anyone interested in researching issues related to German(ic)-American diaspora and heritage culture. 

Students will conduct original field projects that they have developed over the spring semester, either individually or in small groups. These projects will be designed, when possible, in collaboration with local city and non-profit institutions. The excursion group will meet regularly to discuss their projects and to attend several public events on topics of significance to urban transformation and city life in Central Ohio. Students will be expected to conduct interviews, keep regular fieldnotes, and submit a final ethnographic report, which can serve as the basis for a BA or MA Thesis.  

During the excursion, students will sublet rooms in apartments/houses in the vicinity of The Ohio State University, though (paid) host stays with a family are likely possible in the case of student interest. The organization of accommodation will be facilitated by the instructor, though it will be up to students to sign any related sublet agreements and make payment for their accommodation.

Some important things to keep in mind: 

• While nominal supplemental funding for student participation likely will be made available through the department, this field excursion is likely to be more expensive than other ISEK-organized summer schools and excursions.
• The legal drinking age in the United States is 21 and tends to be strictly enforced.

The excursion is open to BA and MA students. To participate in the excursion, students must have a) completed their first year BA courses b) successfully participated in the course “Doing Ethnography” and attend c) the regional module on North America in FS 27.

To apply for the excursion, please send a letter of interest and CV (2 pages maximum each) by 4 December 2026 to lindsay.vogt@uzh.ch

The letter of interest should briefly answer the following questions: (1) what experience do you have doing qualitative research, (2) why are you interested in joining this excursion, (3) provisionally, what would you like to research?, and (4) do you bring any additional skills or experience to the excursion that might be useful for pairing with local organizations? (e.g. artistic, social media, technological skills, topical specializations, etc.)

If you have any questions, please also do not hesitate to be in touch with Lindsay.