Jocelyn Wins the Chinook Research Award

We’re excited to announce that Jocelyn McKnight has been awarded the Chinook Summer Research Award! This competitive award supports undergraduate students who have a research project over the summer. Jocelyn will continue her work on the Visionary Cross Project and possibly start other research passion projects related to Old English.

Abstract: "Stone to Screen: The Visionary Cross Digital Edition"

The Visionary Cross Project addresses the challenge of preserving and sharing the early medieval English stone crosses, which are key cultural artifacts. These crosses, along with related texts, hold significant historical and linguistic value, but are difficult to study due to their size, location, and intricate details. Traditional methods of archiving and publishing have yet to provide a way to make these objects easily accessible to both scholars and the public.

Over the course of its development, the project has evolved through multiple versions after the acquisition and processing for the scans of the crosses. Version 1.0 provided a static platform linking externally hosted 3D models to individual webpages but lacked flexibility for updates or scalability. In response, version 2.0 introduced a restructured framework, improved navigation, and interactive features, framing each cross as a distinct sub-edition within a larger interconnected narrative.

The project hypothesizes that digital tools—such as 3D modeling, linked data from online repositories, and XML-encoded texts—can bridge this gap by creating an interactive, web-based, scholarly edition. The new methodologies that the Visionary Cross Project will use include the application of said digital, with the goal of making this digital scholarly edition functional and educational.

The expected results for version 3.0 include enhanced interactivity, allowing users to engage with the 3D models as tools for both visual exploration and in-depth scholarly research. By combining advanced technology with Old English scholarship, the Visionary Cross Project aims to set a precedent for innovative digital editions of complex historical artifacts.

Congratulations, Jocelyn, on this exciting achievement!