Projects

The Reluctant Internationalists research project (2013-2017) studied international organisations and movements in twentieth-century Europe through the lens of public health, medicine and medical science. Over a period of four years the research group examined the history of international collaboration of medical professionals, relief workers, soldiers, politicians and local officials (among others) in Europe’s long twentieth century.

In a new joint research project, funded by the HERA (Humanities in the European Research Area) and hosted by the Centre, a European team of scholars is delving into the history of the scientific conference, seeing it not as a background for other, ‘real’ action, but as a phenomenon to be grasped in itself. What happened at scientific conferences? How have they exchanged knowledge and shaped expertise? What forms of sociability have developed in these meetings, what rituals have been performed? How have scientific conferences embodied social hierarchies and international relations? How have they informed policies on relevant subjects? The project looks at conferences as ‘public spaces’ and addresses these questions through that lens.