Tensions of
Europe Summer school
“Borders and
Crises in European Past and Present – angles from the history of technology”
Greece (Athens
and Delphi), 5-7 September 2017
The Tensions of Europe Early Career Scholars’ Group (http://www.tensionsofeurope.
eu/) organises the summer school “Borders and Crises in European
Past and Present – angles from the history of technology” in connection to the
8th Tensions of Europe Conference (Athens, 7-10 September 2017; see http://8toe2017.phs.uoa.gr/).
The summer school aims at introducing PhD’s and early
career scholars to the Tensions of Europe network as well as to facilitate and
encourage network between young scholars across borders, while building their
academic skills. The summer school further relates to the overall conference
theme, problematizing how history of technology contributes to the study of
border related phenomena. It also aims at revisiting the close connections between
borders and technology by focusing at another keyword, which is related to the
on-going discussion of Tensions of Europe future research agenda: crises
(see http://www.tensionsofeurope.
eu/www/en/news/building-a- future-research-agenda). Following the main objective of the Tensions of Europe Early Career
Scholars’ Group, the event focuses on network building through workshops,
discussions and informal events.
One of the main themes we will discuss is the concept
of crisis and how it has been co-produced with narratives about technology and
borders in a historic perspective. How is a crisis formulated and perceived in
relation to technology? How have different politics of crises looked over time?
What links or separates definitions of crises over time? And what role does the
memory of past crises play in the definition of and coming to terms with later
crises? We also invite you to relate these issues to the conference theme of
borders, and discuss themes such as migration, security and violence, political
regimes and identities, human rights, economic infrastructure and more. We hope
for a fruitful discussion that can inspire and help all participants in their
future research.
Schedule and structure
In order to promote network building, the summer
school is organized to a large extend around workshops and group discussion.
The expected schedule of the summer school will include one lecture, one session
for introductions, one workshop on writing and publication, one session on
funding, one session co-organised with the ‘Borders, Technology, Peace’
Pre-Conference Meeting (to be confirmed), one workshop on the topic of crises,
and two sessions connecting these activities and discussions to the Tensions
network and its research agenda (see link above).
How to apply
In order to participate, we invite applicants to
submit a short bio (no more than one page) and a short text (300-500 words)
explaining their interest in the topics of the summer school and how their work
would benefit from these discussions.
In the beginning of the summer, participants will be
asked to read texts and write short contributions for the workshops. The
deadline for submitting these contributions will also be communicated to the
participants at that time.
Location and other practicalities
The summer school will take place in Athens, on the
5th and the 7th September, in the seminar room in the Department of History and
Philosophy of Science of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens,
and on the 6th September it is expected to take place in Delphi, as part of the
‘Borders, Technology, Peace’ Pre-Conference Meeting (see http://8toe2017.phs.uoa.gr/
affiliated-events.html) (to be
confirmed). The participants of the summer school are expected to
be on-site, but in some of the sessions, we might also be able to include a few
on-line participants. Those who apply for that option should include that in
their application.
As usual, the Tensions of Europe network will have
travel grants to which the conference participants can apply to. To apply for
these travel grants, the summer school participants will also have to attend
the conference. See more on travel grants at http://8toe2017.phs.uoa.gr/
travel-grants.html
Anna Åberg, Elena Kochetkova, M. Luísa Sousa and
Elitsa Stoilova, on behalf of the Tensions of Europe Early Career Scholars’
Group