Category: Miscellaneous

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Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences Newsletter 2/2021

Dear PhD student,

You can tell that the academic year is coming to an end and that summer is well on its way. All the signs are there: the sun is shining, iced drinks start to seem appealing again, and you receive end of year newsletters, just like this one. In fact, by sending you this summer newsletter, we are performing summer into existence!

By any standards, the academic year 2020-21 has been a peculiar and challenging one. Plans have been thrown up in the air and have had to be rethought, teaching and learning have migrated online, fieldwork has been postponed and curtailed, and there has been a great deal of working from sofas, kitchen tables and unlikely corners. The life of the PhD student and the academic has been altered in various ways, some very apparent and some more subtle. New ways of coping and working have had to be invented. Only time can tell which of these will remain in place in the near future, and which will be abandoned, whether joyfully or with pangs of regret. But whatever happens, we have all learned new things about how we work and how do we deal with challenges. We have all also become very skilled at using Zoom and its background functions. Who knew that so many people at the University of Helsinki seem to live in houses that have wonderful views of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco? Are they secretly working in Berkeley, California?

All across the world, including in universities, there are strong feelings of longing to return to ways of doing things that involve face-to-face interaction and physical proximity. How strange it will seem once again to be in a classroom with other people, or to attend a conference with live human beings in front of you, albeit at whatever is defined as a safe distance. How lovely it would be to bump into a colleague in the office or library and be able to converse without wearing a mask.

Nobody really knows what the future will bring in terms of how we will operate in universities. It is unlikely that we are going to go back in any simple way to pre-Covid forms of “normality”, whatever those may have been. We are not just entering into a period of The New Normal, but probably a set of overlapping New Normals in the plural. Covid and the changes to social life that it brings are not going to go away in some magical way. From the point of view of PhD student working life, it seems likely that a lot of activities will have to remain partially online, at least for a while. This will involve, for example, finding new ways of doing interviews with research subjects, and inventing novel means of collecting data. It is probably best to regard such necessary innovations as opportunities as much as experiencing them as being forced upon us all. And as we all are compelled to create and invent new ways of getting things achieved, we should remember that we are all in this together, that we are not alone, and that the more help and support we can give to each other, the better.

For many students and staff members, this summer will not be like others. There is more catching up work to do, to make up for lost time. Vacation periods may be curtailed for the purposes of getting on with one’s PhD work and other kinds of professional activity. If the fickle Finnish weather smiles upon us, there will be constant struggles between a felt duty to stay inside, glued to the computer all day, and going outside to bask in the sun. Given how quickly autumn and winter return in Finland, it is probably best to go and enjoy the sunshine while you can and worry about the work later. Carpe diem: seize the day!

Looking towards the Autumn/Fall, we can identify the following issues:

  • The teaching programme for the next academic year is now available. You can browse the courses in Sisu already now (Search > type “SOST-” in the field and choose Teaching in a specific period as a filter (2021-22: 1., 2., 3. and 4. period) and from August onwards in the study guide.
  • Registration on courses will happen in Sisu from August onwards: add the study unit (i.e. the code) in your study plan, choose the relevant course in the completion methods, and enrol in the study calendar. Please note that a single course may be available under several codes, so choose the code that you haven’t completed yet (for example, for most seminars, the same teaching event applies to PhD seminars I and II – if you have already completed the first seminar, enrol through the code of the second seminar).
  • Please make sure to create your study plan in Sisu and acquaint yourself with the Sisu instructions for doctoral students available in the study guide. Please note that the applications of students who are about to graduate are prioritized during summer. We are all still learning to use Sisu, so please be patient 😊
  •  Remember to start gathering your thesis committee if you haven’t already done so. All doctoral candidates, except for those who will submit their thesis before 31 July 2022, should have a thesis committee by August 2021. The instructions for thesis committees are available in the study guide.
  • The call for papers for this year’s annual conference titled “Politics of Analysis: Causality, Ethics, Institutions” is open until 15 August. Please consult the conference website for more information.
  • The call for salaried positions is open between 23 August and 7 September. The programme-specific instructions for applying are available on the programme’s website.
  • If you have questions or concerns related to these practical issues, please be in touch with the planning officer of the programme Tuuli Holttinen (tuuli.holttinen@helsinki.fi) or the HYMY Doctoral School (hymy doc@helsinki.fi). Please note that the HYMY office is closed in July.

Have a good summer, be sure to have a PROPER break, and come back re-energised and refreshed in a few months.

With best wishes,

The Steering Committee of the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences

David Inglis
Ilkka Pietilä
Mikko Myrskylä
Anna-Maija Pirttilä-Backman
Johanna Sumiala
Kris Clarke
Sirpa Tenhunen
Keshia Dsilva
Jenni Savonen
and planning officer Tuuli Holttinen

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Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences Newsletter 1/2021

Yet another Zoom meeting…
Enlivened by the fact that it is actually a Teams meeting…
And I don’t know how to use Teams…
Oh, look, Teams/Zoom/delete as appropriate has crashed!
Again! Like it did all the other times!
What joy!

I haven’t seen a lot of people face to face for what seems like several centuries.
I’m starting to feel like a very a-social social scientist…

So much for my fieldwork…
Interviews? On Skype? Are you kidding?

I am sooooo over 2020…
But 2021 looks like it will be much the same… Great!

Am I actually IN a university? Or what is it I am in? (Apart from constantly being in this apartment?)

What should I read to improve my mind? Will I finally pick up that Big Important Book that has been sitting on the shelf, unread and unloved, for the last 3 years?
Will this damn pandemic ever end???

Dear doctoral students,

In the vignette above, have we at all captured some of your thoughts over the last 12 months?

We have certainly captured some of our own.
As your teachers and supervisors in the Doctoral programme of Social Sciences, we want to reach out to you with this newsletter, to provide some hopefully useful thoughts to help you cope with the difficult times we are all facing during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

While we already have some good news about vaccinations, restrictions still remain in force for some time so that academic and social life will continue to be largely online. It is certainly a long wait.

So, if you are feeling down, unmotivated, physically or emotionally exhausted, don’t be surprised. All of us – from early career scholars through to senior professors – are feeling the strain.

Here are some thoughts to help us all manage through the continuing shutdown…

WHAT WE OFFER YOU

Social Sciences Friday Afternoon Coffee Breaks
You are most welcome to join the Friday afternoon coffee breaks organized approximately twice a month. It’s a chance to meet your fellow PhD students from the three doctoral programmes of the faculty as well as the planning officer Tuuli Holttinen. There is usually a general theme to inspire discussion in small groups, but you are welcome to share whatever is on your mind. You can also suggest a theme by contacting Tuuli. The next coffee breaks are organized on Fridays 12 March, 26 March, 9 April and 23 April from 2 pm to 3:30 pm.

We use the same Zoom link on every coffee break. (Meeting ID: 683 9820 0406 Passcode: 429326)

HYMY Writing Evenings
Do you sometimes feel alone in the academia? Are you interested in communal writing or looking for an academic community inside the university? Would you like to share your experiences, ideas and questions with others who are in a similar situation?

Turn on, tune in and join HYMY writing evenings! Meet researchers from other disciplines and become part of a community by joining us in the weekly HYMY writing evenings.

Writing evenings are open to all University of Helsinki doctoral students regardless of faculty or position. The aim of our meetings is to come together to work on your own projects and share your ideas and concerns during the writing breaks.

• In English: Every Wednesday from 4 pm to 7 pm. (Helsinki time UTC +2 h) from March 10 onwards. Fill out the form in the link.
• In Finnish: Every Thursday from 4 pm to 7 pm. Register here.

Carefree Shoulders by Unisport on Zoom
UniSport offers Carefree Shoulders break exercise sessions over Zoom. Carefree shoulders is a refreshing 15-minute guided workout that relieves tension and focuses specifically on the back and shoulder area. These sessions are free and open to all!

• on Mondays at 12.00
• on Wednesdays at 13.00
• on Fridays at 11.00

Carefree Shoulders is suitable for everyone. Participate wherever you want! You do not need to reserve a place for this session. Zoom allows 500 participants. You also don’t need exercise equipment or clothing. You can participate in the Zoom event with Meeting ID 861 9709 5476. You will find the link on the Carefree Shoulders page and on the group exercise
schedule.

Contact information
If you have questions or concerns regarding your doctoral education, you can always contact the planning officer of the programme, Tuuli Holttinen (tuuli.holttinen@helsinki.fi). However, questions regarding study rights and the examination of doctoral theses should be addressed to the training officers of the faculty, valt-postgrad@helsinki.fi. The HYMY doctoral school is in charge of organizing transferable skills courses as well as travel grant calls, so if you have questions about these, please contact hymy-doc@helsinki.fi.

Above all, do not hesitate to contact your supervisors if you feel you need more guidance and support than in normal times. We all do!

STAY CONNECTED!
Stay in touch with other people via social media, e-mail, or call them regularly. You can also arrange group video calls with your friends or family, play online games together or set up a book club to discuss books every month. During the coronavirus pandemic many of us experience feelings of insecurity and loneliness, so do not be afraid to acknowledge your emotions while talking to your friends or family – you may find they are feeling the same way.

TRY TO GET INTO A ROUTINE
For many people, having a daily routine can be extremely beneficial for both their physical and mental wellbeing. If you have been spending most of your time at home during the pandemic, chances are that you already have a routine of daily activities. As the Spring term progresses, it may be helpful to reconsider what worked and what could be changed so your days are more enjoyable and you have more time for yourself. Try going to sleep and waking
up on a set schedule not only throughout the week but also during weekends. Set clear boundaries between the time you commit to your academics and leisure. This can increase your productivity and reduce stress in your personal life, preventing burnout.

TRY TO GO OUTSIDE
We all know the Helsinki weather can be cold and windy but try to incorporate daily walks or exercise outside into your routine as much as possible. Use this opportunity to breathe some fresh air between classes or start your day with a walk while listening to a podcast or favourite song. Walking is not only relaxing but comes with a multitude of health benefits, including increased immunity and lower risk of heart diseases in the future. Walking may also improve your mood, help clear your head, and accelerate your creative thinking.

SEARCH ONLINE FOR ACTIVITIES
The idea of yet another Zoom meeting may seem unappealing, but several activities are now being run online – from yoga to language classes – there is a wealth of knowledge and experiences available to you online and delivered from all over the world. While the pandemic limits the choice of in-person activities, online opportunities are getting increasingly sophisticated, and many of them are free! Try to view this time as an unusual experience, that might have some unexpected benefits.

TRY NOT BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF
Do not ignore how you are feeling. Your feelings are totally valid, and it is normal to feel anxious and demotivated. Due to the ongoing pandemic, we experience more stress than we realise, and there is no right or wrong way to feel about the Coronavirus situation, and its effects on your life. Always prioritise yourself and your wellbeing, and do not be afraid to
reach out for help to a friend or a professional.

SERVICES
These services are here for you:
• Suomen Mielenterveys ry (Mieli ry)
• Crisis lines in various languages
• Finnish mental health support services
• Seeking help (THL/Finnish institute for health and welfare)

University chaplains are there for all members of the university community regardless of their faith and convictions (see also Flamma):

• Leena Huovinen, leena.huovinen@evl.fi, 050 3019613, Messenger, IG: leenahuovinen
• Andreas Lundgren, andreas.lundgren@evl.fi, 050 380 0662, IG: studentprästen (for Swedish-speaking UH members)

Take very good care of yourself, and stay in touch!

The Steering Committee of the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences

Johanna Sumiala
Kris Clarke
David Inglis
Anna-Maija Pirttilä-Backman
Ilkka Pietilä
Mikko Myrskylä
Sirpa Tenhunen
Keshia Dsilva
Jenni Savonen
and planning officer Tuuli Holttinen

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Call for Papers Baltic Connections: a Conference in Social Science History March 26-27, 2020 University of Jyvaskyla, Finland

The Baltic Connections 2020 will take place at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland, from March 26 to 27, and is hosted by the Department of History and Ethnology. As with the inaugural conference last year in Helsinki, we aim to bring together scholars working on comparative, economic, social, global, and other types of history and related social sciences to address various “East-West” historical processes and events as well as comparative and transnational analysis, including at the Baltic region, Europe, and the world. Potential topics include but are not limited to trade, migration, comparative development, international political economy and the diffusion and transplantation of institutions, ideas and cultural influences. Moreover, we want to promote interdisciplinary encounters and discussions, with the goal of bringing together scholars working in Western, Nordic, Central and East European, Baltic, and Russian universities. We are open to proposals that incorporate new digital technologies and ideas for roundtables.

The second Riitta Hjerppe Lecture in Social Science History will be given by Stephen Broadberry (University of Oxford). Further outstanding keynotes will be delivered by Kerstin Enflo (Lund University) and Sakari Saaritsa (University of Helsinki).

The deadline for proposals is December 1, 2019. In addition to individual paper submissions, proposals for whole three to four paper panels are appreciated. Submitters will be notified of acceptance by December 15. Proposals can be submitted to: balticsocsciencehist@gmail.com.

We announce a limited number of travel grants up to 200 euros for participants coming from abroad. Please indicate in your submission if you want to apply.

The organizing institutions are University of Jyvaskyla, University of Helsinki, and the Finnish Economic History Association. The organizing group consists of Jari Ojala (University of Jyvaskyla), Merja Uotila (University of Jyvaskyla), MiiKka Voutilainen (University of Jyvaskyla), Riina Turunen (University of Jyvaskyla), Jari Eloranta (University of Helsinki), Sakari Saaritsa (University of Helsinki), Olli Turunen (University of Helsinki). More information can be obtained from Jari Ojala: jari.ojala@jyu.fi.

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/conferences/baltic-connections

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International Research Symposium: CITIES OF INCLUSION – SPACES OF JUSTICE

Welcome to the International Research Symposium: CITIES OF INCLUSION – SPACES OF JUSTICE, co–organized by the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, “Fragile Cities in the Global South” –Research Project, funded by the Academy of Finland, and “Political, Societal and Regional Change” –Doctoral Programme.

Date and venue: 19-20 September, 2019, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies

The main keynote speakers are:

1.   Prof. DIANE DAVIS (Harvard University, USA):City, Nation, Network: Shifting Territorialities of Sovereignty and Urban Violence in the global South

Venue:Think Corner Stage (Tiedekulma), Yliopistonkatu 4
Date: Thu, 19 Sept. 2019 at 9.15-10.30

2.   Prof. SASKIA SASSEN (Columbia University, USA): Predatory Formations Dressed in Wall Street Suits and Algorithmic Math
Venue:Porthania Lecture Hall II (Yliopistonkatu 3)
Date: Thu, 19. Sept, 2019 at 16-17.45

3.   Prof. ERIK SWYNGEDOUW (University of Manchester, UK): Life and Death in the Urbicene: The de-politicized fantasy of Anthropocenic urbanization
Venue:Think Corner Stage (Tiedekulma), Yliopistonkatu 4
Date: Fri, 20 Sept, 2019 at 9.30-10.30

For a full programme of the Symposium see: 

https://blogs.helsinki.fi/citiesofinclusion2019/

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Seminar: The Relevance of Social Sciences

What does impact mean in the context of social sciences? What makes social sciences relevant beyond academia – at the moment, and in the future?

Seminar: The Relevance of Social Sciences

Tuesday, 20 August 2019, 1-4 pm, University of Helsinki Language Centre, lecture hall 115 (Fabianinkatu 26)

Welcome to a seminar organized by the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Social Sciences, with presentations from members of its international Scientific Advisory Board and faculty. Representing a broad field of social sciences and its approaches, the speakers will address the question of relevance in social sciences.

What could be done to make the social sciences more relevant? What kind of international collaboration and benchmarking are beneficial to this goal? How could research and teaching be organized to enhance the relevance of social sciences? Should social sciences organize around problem/phenomena, instead of theories or methods? What is happening to traditional ways of understanding disciplines and disciplinarity in social sciences?

Program

Chair: Vice dean Juhana Aunesluoma

1 – 2.30 pm: Disciplines and paradigms

Social psychology: a discipline in the midst of an(other) identity crisis. Laurent Licata, Université Libre de Bruxelles.

The inequality paradigm and the future of social science. Mike Savage, London School of Economics and Political Science.

The future of the social sciences: a personal view. Stephen Broadberry, University of Oxford.

Discussant Nelli Hankonen, University of Helsinki

Break

2.45 – 4 pm: Interdisciplinarity and institutions

Interdisciplinarity and impact in social science – creating the new American public university at ASU. Karen Mossberger, Arizona State University.

The relevance of social science: experiences across the fault lines of policy and engineering. Elizabeth Shove, Lancaster University.

[Title TBC] Annelise Riles, Northwestern University

Discussant Risto Kunelius, University of Helsinki

All are welcome! Priority will be given to members of the Faculty of Social Sciences. No registration is required.

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Persistence or Change? Inequalities, Conflicts and Power in Local and Global Perspectives 6th Annual Conference for the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences & the Doctoral Programme in Political, Societal and Regional Change

University of Helsinki 21-22 October 2019 Metsätalo, Unioninkatu 40

Keynotes by

Professor Judith Pallot (Geography, University of Oxford/University of Helsinki):

Professor John Jost (Psychology and Politics, University of New York):

Professor Risto Alapuro (Sociology, University of Helsinki):

Additionally, there will be two panel discussions organized around the themes of inequality as well as post-doctoral career perspectives.


                                                             Call for papers

The 6th Annual Conference for PhD students explores the question of inequalities in local and global perspectives.

Inequalities have existed through world history and have shifted over time. Today, both global and local communities are being confronted with a world of growing challenges and crises caused by growing inequalities. In order to solve such crises, it is vital to understand their root causes and analyse possible future outcomes. How does inequalities develop, what are major causes and what are key effects on both a micro and macro level, as well as on local and global societies?

The University of Helsinki for the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences & Political, Societal and Regional Change invite academic scholars and doctoral researchers to the Doctoral Programmes’ 6th Annual Conference for a discussion of different aspects and challenges related to inequality. Topics to be addressed could include: cultural, economic, environmental, historical, political, social, and gender inequalities.

Possible research topics to be addressed could be, but are not limited in choice such as:

  • Theoretical perspectives for understanding how and why inequalities persist
  • Overlapping or intersecting inequalities
  • The role of political, social and economic factors behind inequality
  • Inequalities at local, national and global levels
  • Growing inequality or growing equality: exploring the debate

In addition to the theme of inequality, this year the conference also invites doctoral students to discuss their present research work more general in nature, such as their research plans in separate study groups.

Please send your abstracts (max. 300 words) by August 25th, 2019 by filling out the e-form https://elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/98549/lomake.html

Accepted presenters will be notified by September 9th, 2019.

Please add four to five keywords to your abstract in order to facilitate the allocation of individual papers to different workshops.

The deadline for final papers is October 9th, 2019. The maximum length for papers is 1000 – 8000 words. The doctoral students who will give a presentation of their paper will be awarded with 2 study credits. You may also attend the conference without a paper and obtain 1 study credit.

All doctoral students from the Doctoral Programmes in Social Sciences and Political, Societal and Regional Change are welcome and strongly encouraged to participate.

Please also visit our conference blog! https://blogs.helsinki.fi/psrc-ss-conference-2019/

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Árran – Ecology of Indigenous languages

 

International Conference to celebrate 2019 Year of Indigenous Languages declared by Unesco and the United Nations

 When? 19.–20.9.2019

Where? University of Helsinki, Main Building, Fabianinkatu 33

‘Árran’ means hearth/fireplace, and we take it as an analogy to how languages allow people to come together and share their different experiences. On the Year of Indigenous Languages declared by the Unesco and United Nations, the main objective of our conference is to bring together both indigenous and non-indigenous scholars, activists, and artists in order to discuss indigenous languages in light of the current socio-political, economic, and environmental changes, which at present affect the world. Our aim is to exchange knowledge on best practices for the promotion of Indigenous languages, which are often listed as endangered, and to advance knowledge on the relations between Indigenous languages, ontologies, and epistemologies. The conference allows us to match the goals risen by the Unesco by celebrating the Year of Indigenous Languages, and to effectively contribute to scholarship in developing the concept of language ecology further. Metaphorically, sharing stories and narratives, verbal art, ways of speaking, and their symbolism fuels the warmth and guarantees the continuation of the Árran.

Keynote speeches: Gunvor Guttorm (Sámi University of Applied Sciences) and Anthony Webster (University of Texas at Austin).

Opening words: Alexey Tsykarev (EMRIP)

Speakers include:

Mere Kepa  (University of Auckland, Aoteorea-New Zealand)

Linita Manu’atu (Api Fakakoloa Educational Services, Auckland, New Zealand & Tonga Institute of Education, Kingdom of Tonga)

Daniel Mundurucu (Mundurucu author, Brazil)  

Ekaterina Grudzeva (University of Helsinki) 

Harald Gaski (University of Tromsø)

Inga Ravna Eira (Sámi author)

Jelena Porsanger (University of Helsinki)

Katarina Pirak Sikku (Sámi artist)

Maria Khachaturyan (University of Helsinki)

Robert Brave Heart Sr. (Executive Vice President at Red Cloud Indian School, Pine Ridge, South Dakota)

Stef Spronck (University of Helsinki)

 

Organizers: Laura Siragusa, Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen, Hanna Guttorm, Irja Seurujärvi-Kari (Indigenous Studies), Rani-Henrik Andersson and Olesya Khanina (Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies)

Program and Conference website: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/conferences/arran-ecology-of-indigenous-languages

Registration before Sept 12th: https://elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/97903/lomake.html (places limited)

The event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/811183392592139/

For further information, please contact conference secretary, Indigenous Studies: 

Mariia Rauramo: mariia.rauramo@helsinki.fi 

 

 

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“Refugee Narratives of Europe – an Area of Security?”

 

On Friday 17.5.2019, Laura Sumari (University of Helsinki) will give a talk “Refugee Narratives of Europe – an Area of Security?” in the EuroStorie research seminar series. The EuroStorie research seminar is organized by the Centre of Excellence in Law, Identity and the European Narratives and will host a guest speaker or several shorter presentations centered around a common theme. The seminar is open to all without registration, welcome!

When: 17.5.2019, 13:00-14:00
Where: Meeting room 229, Psychologicum (Siltavuorenpenger 1 A, 00170 Helsinki)
Event page: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/news/society-economy/eurostorie-research-seminar-laura-sumari-17.5.2019

Abstract: Laura’s PhD project examines how refugees and other ‘protection’ or ‘life seekers’ imagine and experience Europe, especially in terms of security and safety in different stages of the displacement. She seeks to find out how Europe is envisioned and experienced from the outside by those trying to enter, and how refugees and asylum seekers socially and culturally construct Europe as an area of security/insecurity throughout the migratory journey and asylum process. The research material is gathered by interviewing refugees and asylum seekers in various places and environments: camps and reception centres as well as urban and rural locations before and after reaching Europe. So far, Laura has collected research material in Kenya as well as Cyprus and Southern Italy and the plan is to continue in other locations next autumn and during spring 2020. Laura will also interview refugees and asylum seekers in Finland. The research is ethnographic by orientation and the analysis critically reflects the concepts of Europe and security. The purpose of the study is to offer a ‘refugee’ perspective to European security discussion. Laura wants to bring alternative narratives as a part of the ‘story of Europe’, traditionally told from the inside by people close to power, and challenge the traditional Eurocentric narratives that dominate the public discussion.

For more information about EuroStorie, the Centre of Excellence in Law, Identity and the European Narratives, please see www.eurostorie.org.

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The Collegium Lecture by Daniel Boyarin (Berkeley) Monday 27.5.2019, 5 pm, reception to follow Venue: Small Hall, University of Helsinki Main Building (Fabianink. 33, 4th floor)

Description:

“In this lecture, I will contend that the binary opposition: The Jews is a religion/The Jews is a nation is based on a false dichotomy. It is further flawed by the assumption that nation is tantamount to nation-state such that only the option ‘religion’ constitutes an oppositional position vis-a-vis a Jewish nation state. I will discuss scholarship that proves definitively that many – if not most – early Zionist political thought did not involve the building of a state. The bulk of the lecture will outline the idea of a Diaspora Nation as the once and (possible) future for the continued existence of the Jews.”

Speaker Bio:

Daniel Boyarin, Taubman Professor of Talmudic Culture and rhetoric, UC Berkeley received his Ph. D. in 1975 from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He has been an NEH Fellow (twice), a Guggenheim Fellow, a Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Jerusalem, a holder of the Berlin Prize at the American Academy in Berlin and a Ford Foundation Fellow. He spent the academic year 2012-2013 as a fellow of the Wissenschaftskolleg in Berlin and was a Humboldt Research Award recipient at Freie Universität Berlin in 2017. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 2006.

Prof. Boyarin has written extensively on talmudic and midrashic studies, and his work has focused on cultural studies in rabbinic Judaism, including issues of gender and sexuality as well as research on the Jews as a colonized people. His most recent research interests center primarily around questions of the relationship of Judaism and Christianity in late antiquity and the genealogy of the concepts of “religion” and “Judaism.” Current projects include a critical edition of the second chapter of Bavli Pesachim, a biography of Josephus for the Yale Jewish Lives, as well as a book to be entitled “What is the Jews”.

His books include Intertextuality and the Reading of Midrash (1990), Carnal Israel: Reading Sex in Talmudic Culture (1993), A Radical Jew: Paul and the Politics of Identity (1994), and Unheroic Conduct: The Rise of Heterosexuality and the Invention of the Jewish Man (1997), all published by the University of California Press. Further publications include Dying for God: Martyrdom and the Making of Christianity and Judaism (Stanford UP, 1999), Border Lines: The Partition of Judaeo-Christianity (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004), Socrates and the Fat Rabbis (University of Chicago Press, 2009), The Jewish Gospel: The Story of the Jewish Christ (the New Press, 2012), A Traveling Homeland: The Talmud as Diaspora (Penn, 2016), Imagine No Religion (with Carlin Barton; Fordham, 2016) and Judaism: the Genealogy of a Modern Notion (Rutgers University Press, 2018).

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2421078818126050/

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The Collegium Lecture is the annual main event of the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies and brings internationally renowned speakers from various fields of research to Helsinki. The audience has the opportunity to converse with Professor Boyarin at a reception held afterwards in the lobby of the Small Hall.

The event is free and open to the public. Welcome!