News from the IIAS Fellowship Programme
The academic year has commenced at the IIAS Fellowship Programme with the arrival of our new cohort, a notable group of eight scholars embarking on a 12-month fellowship to advance their research and projects with us. This diverse group brings expertise in film studies and communication, architecture, archaeology, gender studies, social anthropology, and geography. They approach their research with a global perspective on Asia, enriched by a profound understanding of local contexts. We wish them all a fruitful and inspiring stay in Leiden.
We are excited to welcome Professor Tze-Lan Sang as the new Chair of Taiwan Studies for the next five months. Professor Sang's research delves into women’s documentary films from Taiwan, examining how female directors address ethnic, national, and migration issues within Taiwan's cinematic tradition. She will also work on translating poetry by Taiwanese poet Hsi Muren. We are also hosting Makoto Yoshida, from Nanzan University in Japan, who will be spending his sabbatical with us. Dr. Yoshida will deepen his research on the Dutch colonial passport system and its role in controlling the movement of Chinese people from the Netherlands East Indies. His work will involve collecting and analysing records from Dutch Ministries and Consulates in various Chinese cities to explore the peculiarities of colonial passports and their function as official identity documents for Chinese individuals. And our current Gonda Fellow, Sandra Sattler, will be at IIAS developing her research on the role of Kālañjara (Kalinjar), a historic hill fort in India, in the worship of a fierce goddess from the 9th to 13th centuries.
New partnerships
We are very pleased to announce new partnerships with three esteemed institutions: the International Institute of Social History and Framer Framed, both based in Amsterdam, and the CAPAS - Käte Hamburger Center for Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic Studies, affiliated with Heidelberg University.
The International Institute of Social History (Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis [IISG]), founded in Amsterdam in 1935, is a premier institution for uncovering and understanding the forces that have shaped our world. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the IISG is renowned for its extensive collections and groundbreaking research. Its mission is to preserve and promote historical documents and artefacts illuminating the pivotal social and political movements that have transformed societies.
The institute holds a remarkable collection of documentation focusing on liberation movements in Asia, Latin America, and Southern Africa. Among the highlights are a draft page of the Communist Manifesto and an extensive array of banners and artefacts created in the context of the Umbrella Movement protests in Hong Kong. This crucial repository offers deep insights into the fight for freedom and justice in these regions, underscoring the IISG’s role in preserving and sharing these vital historical narratives.
Framer Framed functions as a pioneering platform for contemporary art, visual culture, critical theory, and an array of socially engaged artistic practices. Annually, their team curates a diverse range of exhibitions and hosts various cultural and educational events at its primary venue in Amsterdam Oost, as well as at its project space, Werkplaats Molenwijk, in Amsterdam Noord. Committed to the idea that impactful and contextually aware programming thrives in an open and accessible environment, Framer Framed offers all of its public programmes free of charge. The organisation provides resources to both emerging and established local and international artists, curators, and communities, supporting them in transforming their creative visions into reality. Visitors are regarded as collaborators and are afforded the time, support, and facilities necessary to bring their ideas to life.
The Käte Hamburger Center for Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic Studies (CAPAS) at Heidelberg University is a pioneering research institute dedicated to exploring the impact of catastrophes and apocalyptic scenarios on societies, imaginaries, and environments. Employing a transdisciplinary approach, CAPAS investigates both historical and contemporary disruptions, aiming to differentiate and understand these upheavals. The centre delves into reactions to end-time visions and future planning in the context of their historical and cultural settings. CAPAS integrates empirical research with interpretive humanistic approaches to fully understand and analyse apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic concepts. While natural and social sciences provide empirical observations, the humanities offer insights into cultural framings and future scenarios that go beyond mere predictions. Given the global and transcultural nature of end-time scenarios, CAPAS leverages international expertise by appointing global fellows and collaborating with leading research centres and universities worldwide.
The IIAS Fellowship Programme and its partner institutes will organise activities and events designed to integrate our fellows into a complex and enriching academic and para-academic landscape, fostering diverse forms of knowledge sharing and innovative formats for high-quality contemporary debate. Stay tuned for more updates on the developments within our programme and about our fellows.
Laura Erber is Coordinator Global Partnerships and Fellowships at IIAS. Email: l.rabelo.erber@iias.nl
