Pre- and PostDoc Workshop 2020

South/Eastern and Central European Histories of Science and the Humanities

Over the last couple of years, historians of science and the humanities have taken great interest in projects related to Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe and their global interconnectedness. However, opportunities for a joint discussion of such projects are rare and often rely on ad hoc initiatives. After the inauguration of a forum for projects that link approaches from the history of science and the humanities with specific regional expertise in summer 2019 at Erfurt, we want to continue the collaborative venture of elaborating on (trans)regional historical and political epistemologies.

The initiative aims at a productive debate between projects from history, sociology, literature, media studies, etc. dealing with scientific endeavours and specific investigations in (academic) research, institutions, migration of knowledge etc. We discuss perspectives on the local, regional, (post-)imperial or national frameworks of Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe in the light of specific theoretical frames, challenge the methodological perspectives of these projects, and seek to identify synergies between them.

The workshop is open to all young researchers focussing on the history of politics, materiality, and practices of (non-)academic research with case studies centred in or related to Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe in the broadest sense. To create a productive environment, we are particularly interested in discussing work in progress. The workshop will be based on pre-cirulated papers from ongoing research projects. They will be read and evaluated by all participants and each invited paper will be assigned to a senior researcher for a special commentary to open the floor.

The seminar "Central, Eastern and South Eastern European Histories of Science and the Humanities" will take place on Friday, 2 October 2020 between 10am and 6pm at the University of Vienna. It is hosted jointly by the Department of History and the Department of Contemporary History (University of Vienna) in collaboration with the research initiative "(East) European Epistemologies" at the Max-Weber-Kolleg for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies, Erfurt.

Working languages will be English and German, a passive understanding of both is required. Reimbursement of travel expenditures and accommodation for the speakers will be ensured by the organizers. Scholars willing to participate are asked to submit a short proposal (up to one page) by 1 June 2020 along with a short biographical note. Notifications upon acceptance will be sent out no later than 10 June 2020. The texts (pdf) need to be submitted by 13 September 2020 in order to pre-circulate among all participants in time.

Dr. Friedrich Cain, Universität Erfurt
Prof. Dr. Bernhard Kleeberg, Universität Erfurt
Dr. Jan Surman, HSE Moscow
Lukas Becht, University of Vienna
Prof. Dr. Claudia Kraft, University of Vienna
Prof. Dr. Anna Echterhölter, University of Vienna

Local Organiser:
Lukas Becht
Institut für Osteuropäische Geschichte, Spitalgasse 2/Hof 3.2, 1090 Wien, Austria