From June 1-15, 2023, ACLS and the Centre for Advanced Study Sofia (CAS) hosted 13 scholars for the inaugural Summer Institute for Scholars of East Central and Southeastern Europe (SISECSE) at the American University in Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. This three-year initiative is made possible by generous support from Carl and Betty Pforzheimer.
The two-week residency convened talented scholars from Eastern Europe and North America to undertake research and local fieldwork at regional archives, museum collections, communities, and historic sites. Participants represented a diverse range of research, fields of study, and institutions across Eastern Europe and the United States. They were joined by ACLS President Joy Connolly and CAS Director Diana Mishkova.
“During the Institute, I worked on my project ‘A Search for Belonging: Migrations of Bosnian Muslims in the 19th and 20th Century and Responses of the Islamic Scholars,’ tackling two critical themes in European history: mass migration and Islam in Europe,” said Ehlimana Memišević G’23, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo. “Discussing my research project with scholars of East Central and Southeastern Europe had an invaluable impact on understanding different perspectives, theoretical frameworks, and methodological approaches. Besides contributing to my research, the Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe broadened my intellectual networks, which will lead to valuable future collaborations.”
Discussing my research project with scholars of East Central and Southeastern Europe had an invaluable impact on understanding different perspectives, theoretical frameworks, and methodological approaches. Ehlimana Memišević G’23Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo
In addition to their research, the scholars joined collaborative writing workshops and engaged in a series of interdisciplinary discussions on “Scholarly Writing in the Digital Age,” exploring topics including:
“Real advancement was made in the scholars’ research projects and international connections,” said ACLS President Joy Connolly. “Several scholars have already invited others to give lectures and others have made significant changes in their projects due to the advice of their colleagues. Serious discussions were held about scholarly method and ways to improve communication and collaboration between North America and Eastern Europe, with particular attention to the need to make outstanding Eastern European scholars more visible outside the region.”
The Summer Institute for Scholars of East Central and Southeastern Europe also included an overnight trip to Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and a guest lecture from Jessie Labov, Associate Professor, Communication and Senior Research Fellow at Corvinus University of Budapest. Her talk, “Are We All Public Intellectuals Now?” addressed the consequences of the public accessibility of scholarship on the Internet. From digital interfaces to open access publishing, she asked the group to consider what types of public outreach and platforms fit them best, who constitutes the public for their individual projects, and how they might curate each act of publication along those lines.
The intellectual atmosphere and exchanges with other fellows made me better understand the legibility of my project to different audiences, which made me rethink some of my initial assumptions of my writing’s voice, audiences, and possible receptions.
“The intellectual atmosphere and exchanges with other fellows made me better understand the legibility of my project to different audiences, which made me rethink some of my initial assumptions of my writing’s voice, audiences, and possible receptions,” said Emil Kerenji G’23, Applied Research Scholar, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “This rethinking was amplified by structured discussions that we had as fellows on precisely this topic—how to write in the digital age, how to craft your work for different audiences, and what are the implications of all these different ways of curation.”
“The full-scale Russian aggression brought Ukraine in the global spotlight, shaping how our country is perceived worldwide. As a scholar specializing in cultural icons and national identity, I became fascinated by the role these icons play in fostering Ukrainian identity during the Russia-Ukraine war,” said Olena Fomenko G’23, Associate Professor, Educational and Scientific Institute of Journalism, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. “Meeting scholars of East Central and Southeastern Europe, especially in Bulgaria, had a significant impact on my research. It deepened my knowledge of the region and provided valuable local insights for my work.”
Applications for the 2024 Summer Institute for Scholars of East Central and Southeastern Europe will open in July 2023, with applications due November 2, 2023, 9:00 PM EDT.
