Shii News – Academic Items
1.Medicine in the Islamic World: A History through Manuscripts
Part of the UCLA Islamic Studies one-day symposium, Islam and Medicine: Past and Present
Saturday, February 8, 2025
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
Location provided upon RSVP
2. Grant Opportunities at GINGKO – Call for Applications
Grant Date
January 1, 2025 – April 6, 2025
Location
United Kingdom
Subject Fields
Architecture and Architectural History, Art, Art History & Visual Studies, Islamic History / Studies, Middle East History / Studies, Religious Studies and Theology
GINGKO provides grants to support academic research into the history, art history and religions of MENA. GINGKO also offers grants for people organising transformative interfaith and intercultural encounters between people from MENA and the West.
In 2024 successful applications included grants to support the forthcoming online exhibition ‘The Emamzadeh Yahya at Varamin: An Online Exhibition of a Living Iranian Shrine’ and ‘Unveiling Narratives: the material Culture of West Asian Ethnology in America’, a research project seeking to investigate the formation of the Hall of Asian Peoples (now known as the Gardner D. Stout Hall of Asian Peoples) at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. You can read more about our previous grant recipients and the projects we support here: gingko.org.uk/grant-recipients/
If you have a research project or an encounter that you would like to pursue, pleases consider applying.
We are open for applications until 6 April 2025. You can read more about the GINGKO Grants Programme and find information on how to apply by visiting: gingko.org.uk/how-to-apply
We look forward to hearing from you!
Contact Information
4 Molasses Row
London, SW11 3UX, UK
+44 (0)20 36379730
Contact Email
URL
3. “Analyzing Ottoman Külliye Architecture through the Climate Lens,” Onur Öztürk, VIAHSS – January 21
The first lecture in the spring 2025 Virtual Islamic Art History Seminar Series will take place on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 11:00 Chicago / 12:00 NYC / 17:00 London / 20:00 Istanbul.
Onur Öztürk (Columbia College Chicago) will present “Analyzing Ottoman Külliye Architecture through the Climate Lens: The Little Ice Age and the Yeni Valide Mosque.”
To attend, please make sure to register in advance here:
https://wellesley.zoom.us/meeting/register/Ny2fnYJ_RqO3-K43YMBUKw
Upon registration, you’ll receive the link to access the lecture.
As always, you can find a full schedule of upcoming talks and register for our list-serv on our website at viahss.org. We will be posting our full spring 2025 schedule soon. Although not every talk is recorded, we also have recordings of several recent talks available on the VIAHSS Vimeo page at vimeo.com/viahss. Lastly, you can follow us on X at @viahss and on Instagram at @theviahss to stay up to date on upcoming events!
Contact Information
Drs. Alexander Brey, Jaimee Comstock-Skipp, and Rachel Winter
Contact Email
URL
4. Conference – 9th Islamic Archaeology Day, UCL, London – February 1
The programme for the 9th annual Islamic Archaeology Day co-hosted by SOAS and UCL and held at the UCL Institute of Archaeology on Saturday February 1st 2025 between 11 and 6pm.
We invite you to register online at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/events/2025/feb/islamic-archaeology-day-2025. There is an early-bird registration fee of £18 (£12 for students – limited numbers) for those who register before January 14th; registration from the 15th is £25 so we encourage you to register as soon as possible! Registration will cover a sandwich lunch, refreshments and a wine reception.
There will be a dinner afterwards for anyone who would like to attend at a cost of ca £45pp (meze, main course and wine included) and has registered by the Early Bird deadline of January 14th. We’ll confirm final numbers and the price for the dinner with all those interested on Jan 15th.
Finally, please do pass this onto others who may be interested in attending. Everyone is welcome!
All best wishes for a wonderful 2025,
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/events/2025/feb/islamic-archaeology-day-2025
5. Graduate Student Meeting – Call for Papers
20th Colloquium of the Ernst Herzfeld-Gesellschaft | Ernst Herzfeld Society
Cairo (Egypt) 3 July 2025
Are you a graduate student in Islamic Art, Architecture, or Archaeology? Are you interested in meeting other students working on related topics? Would you like to discuss your research with your peers? How about presenting a paper based on your research at the graduate student meeting of the Ernst Herzfeld Society?
The graduate student meeting offers an opportunity for graduate students in the fields of Islamic Art History, Archaeology, and Architecture to present their ongoing research while providing a platform for discussion and networking. It is organised by Salma Azzam of Vienna University. It will take place at the American University in Cairo, Tahrir Campus on the 3rd of July in conjunction with the 20th Colloquium of the Ernst Herzfeld Society for Studies in Islamic Art and Archaeology.
Please submit your proposal for a paper by 31 January 2025 to Salma Azzam:
salma.azzam@univie.ac.at . The proposal should include a title and an abstract of 250-300
words. You should also include your full name, the name of your university, and whether you
are an advanced BA student, an MA student, or a PhD student. Papers are given in English.
Acceptance will be notified by 28 February 2025
For further info:
https://ernst-herzfeld-gesellschaft.com/en/graduate-student-meeting-call-for-papers-3/
6. CfP: Historicisms in Islamic Art: Narratives, Materials and Perspectives
20th Colloquium of the Ernst Herzfeld Society for Studies in Islamic Art and Archaeology
Cairo (Egypt), American University in Cairo – Tahrir Campus
July 3–6, 2025
Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2025.
Notification of acceptance: February 28, 2025.
Historicism is generally understood in a sense of historical periodisation, and more specifically in art and architecture as a term and a period that refer to the use and revival of historical forms and ‘styles’ in nineteenth-century Europe and the West. It is, however, in the broader sense of a conscious and intentional recourse to artistic forms and visualities of earlier times that we would like to address this issue in the 20th Colloquium of the Ernst Herzfeld Society, jointly organised by the German Archaeological Institute, Cairo Department, and the American University in Cairo. Under the heading “Historicisms in Islamic Art: Narratives, Materials and Perspectives”, we invite to look at instances of such recourses to historical forms and styles in the wide geographical and temporal context of Islamic Art from early Islam to the present, and across all media.
The city of Cairo, as a product of several foundations, relocations and refortifications, and the site of architectural and artistic activities of a long chain of successive rulers, dynasties, and social groups, belongs to the most important historical urban ensembles in the Eastern Mediterranean. The city therefore lends itself perfectly as a vantage point for a critical reflection about how architecture and visual arts serve as markers for the continuity and change over time and as clues about how various historical societies lived with, viewed, and took recourse to, their history.
The 20th Colloquium of the Ernst Herzfeld Society invites recent research on historicism in Islamic art that examines how historical awareness has shaped artistic production in different periods and regions. The conference aims to explore the different categories of historicism in Islamic Art and the role of historiography and Islamic material cultural production in shaping narratives. Besides papers and panels that discuss theoretical approaches and case studies within different regional socio-political contexts, the conference also welcomes presentations on revivalist art movements in the 19th and 20th centuries as well as discussions on contemporary cultural production engaging with historical themes in different media and techniques.
This conference hopes to explore the different ways historicism has shaped narratives, mediums, and discourses surrounding Islamic art, while also exploring its contemporary production. The concept of historicism in Islamic art, which involves the conscious use and sometimes revival and reinterpretation of historical forms and visualities, offers an interesting way to explore the evolution and continuity of Islamic artistic traditions. The organisers aim to bring together and encourage the dialogue between art historians, archaeologists, cultural historians, and practitioners, and to highlight the need for the preservation and promotion of the Islamic artistic heritage in contemporary times.
Key Questions:
- How do architectural monuments, artefacts, calligraphy, textiles, and other material remains embody the historical contexts of their creation? What are the tangible expressions of historicism in Islamic art?
- What are the varied manifestations of historicism in Islamic art? Revivalism, eclecticism, archaism, and other stylistic and conceptual approaches can be explored.
- Where do we encounter narratives influenced by, or giving evidence of, historicism within Islamic art and material culture? Mosque inscriptions, chroniclers’ accounts, travelogues, patronage records, and other historical sources as options.
- Who are the agents and institutions that have shaped historicist practices and narratives in Islamic art? The roles of rulers, religious authorities, scholars, museums, collectors, curators, academics, publishers, and modern nation-states in constructing and disseminating these narratives.
- What are the diverse media through which historicist narratives of Islamic art have been transmitted? Manuscripts, exhibitions, scholarly texts, digital platforms, artworks, and educational curricula.
- How has the past been selectively invoked, appropriated, or distorted within historicist discourses surrounding Islamic art? The potential uses and abuses of historicism.
- How has historicism shaped the interpretation and representation of Islamic material culture, such as ceramics, metalwork, and numismatics, etc?
- What are the different methodologies and perspectives of historicism in the study and appreciation of Islamic art? What have been the major shifts and evolutions in contemporary history?
- How is historicism in Islamic art perceived and read by diverse audiences, including scholars, artists, and the general public? Reception and impact of historicist narratives.
The Colloquium will also host a panel for other themes of current research in Islamic art and archaeology, for which we also invite applications.
The four-day conference will be held at AUC’s Tahrir Campus in Downtown Cairo and will include a keynote lecture, panel sessions and round table discussions, poster presentations, a graduate meeting, and field trips in Cairo.
Application
Please submit your proposal for a paper or a panel by January 31, 2025 to Heba Afifi:
heba.afifi@dainst.de
Individual papers: Please submit a title and an abstract of 250 and no more than 300 words, together with a short CV (max. 1 page).
Pre-arranged panels: will preferably include three to four presentations. Please submit a title and an abstract of no more than 500 words presenting the topic and aim of the panel, and a provisional list of speakers with abstracts and CVs (see above).
The preferred colloquium language is English. Each presentation is limited to 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of discussion (or 30 minutes of discussion per panel).
All proposals will undergo a peer review selection process. Acceptance will be notified by the end of February 2025.
If you want to submit a paper proposal for the graduate meeting (separate call), please send your title and abstract to Salma Azzam: salma.azzam@univie.ac.at
Registration for and participation in the Colloquium are free for members of the Ernst Herzfeld Society. Other speakers and participants are asked to join the Society by paying the annual membership fee. Please see: https://ernst-herzfeld-gesellschaft.com/en/beitrittsformular/
We kindly request that speakers and participants make their own travel and accommodation arrangements. A list of hotels located in the vicinity of the Colloquium venue, some of them offering AUC special rates, will be made available in due course. For a limited number of student participants of the graduate meeting, accommodation can be provided at the premises of the German Archaeological Institute depending on availability.
7. The Islamic College:
Islamic Ethics for Professionals
Online Course – 24th January 2025 – 20th May 2025
A Unique Online Course Covering: Biomedical Ethics, Environmental Ethics, Business Ethics and Public Life, Social Media Ethics and Ethics of Journalism, Islamic Ethics and AI
£400 for working professionals: £80 for single topics (two sessions)
£200 for students and trainees: £40 for single topics (two sessions)
Registration Deadline: 22nd January 2025
Course Overview:
This specialized course offers a comprehensive exploration of Islamic ethics as applied to contemporary professional contexts. Divided into 11 sessions, each lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes, the course provides a unique blend of academic insights and practical applications.
Course Structure:
Each topic features two expert speakers: one discussing the ethical implications of a specific topic from a general perspective and the other offering an Islamic ethical analysis. This dual approach provides a well-rounded understanding of the subject matter. There are two exceptions to the above structure: biomedical ethics will be discussed in three sessions while AI and Ethics in one session.
Session Format:
Lecture (1 hour): A detailed presentation on the chosen topic, covering both general and Islamic ethical perspectives.
Q&A Session (45 minutes): An interactive discussion where participants can ask questions and engage in dialogue with the experts.
Info at:
https://islamic-college.ac.uk/study-short-courses/islamic-ethics-for-professionals/
8. EUP: Call for proposals: Ancient and Medieval Afghanistan
Introducing Ancient and Medieval Afghanistan, a brand new series dedicated to Afghanistan.
Series editors: Warwick Ball and Rachel Mairs
This new, interdisciplinary book series is dedicated to the ancient and medieval history of Afghanistan and its surrounding regions, raising the country’s profile as a focus of study in its own right. If your research centres on the ancient history, archaeology, art, architecture, cultural heritage, religion, numismatics or epigraphy of Afghanistan, we want to hear from you.
Visit the series homepage to find out more: https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fddlnk.net%2Fc%2FAQjSfRCDj4UHGPmorJQFIMfViqIBqiUF3GjxeISVqWe0htWyiL4tfVViwjBbeFj-95mgrHs&data=05%7C02%7C%7C9262391de9ab415ebf2e08dd36e624e9%7C2e9f06b016694589878910a06934dc61%7C0%7C0%7C638727084266806687%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=hy%2Fn38Gtu1WRfaOmJDDgQYQsYLgzwOwIYiiePSH9Ems%3D&reserved=0
9. ONLINE Meeting “Simtho Unveiled: Launch of the World’s Most Comprehensive Syriac Corpus”, Syriac Institute and Institute for Advanced Study Princeton, 5 February 2025, 6:00 pm CET
This landmark release represents over five years of dedicated work, from its initial beta version of 6 million words to its current size of over 25 million words. Leveraging cutting-edge OCR technology, artificial intelligence, and the meticulous efforts of the MelthoLab, this first formal release offers unprecedented access to Syriac literary heritage.
Information and registration:
https://theias.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqfuqrqjsuGtVoNhb90u7yk59hC-ykXE2E#/registration
10. ONLINE Conference “The Concept of Religious Leadership and the Concept of Religious Community in Judaism, Christianity and Islam”, Bavarian Research Center for Interreligious Discourse (BAFID), FAU Erlangen, 19-20 February 2025
Deadline for registration: 12 February 2025.
Program and registration: https://www.bafid.fau.de/files/2024/12/KCID_02.25.pdf
11. Conference “Once, We Were Here: Traces of Mobility across the Ottoman Empire”, LMU, Munich; 8-10 July 2025
We invite scholars to explore the wealth of material traces travelers left behind, shedding light on the motiva-tions, experiences, and broader social, religious, and economic dynamics they reveal.
Deadline for abstracts. 30 January 2025.
Information: https://www.naher-osten.uni-muenchen.de/forschung/majlis1/mobasccfp/index.html
12. ESA Sociology of Religion Research Network 34 Mid-term Conference: “The Liquid Presence of Religion in the Public Sphere”, Tilburg University, The Netherlands, 20-21 August 2025
We welcome papers that examine how secular institutions take on ‘religious’ characteristics and how religious organizations or groups incorporate secular elements into their practice. The conference aims to further our understanding of how current developments – such as globalization, neoliberalism, the rise of authoritari-anism, and digitalization – influence and transform values, social relations, and religious communities.
Deadline for abstracts: 31 January 2025.
Information: https://esareligion.org/conferences/current-conference/
13. Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) in South Asian or Middle Eastern (Decolonial), History, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Preference will be given to scholars of the early modern and modern periods. Research must demonstrate thoughtful engagement with decoloniality, Qualification: PhD in History; record of research excellence in either South Asian or Middle Eastern history; possess non-European language skills relevant to the appli-cant’s research field; demonstrate expertise in decolonial approaches to South Asian or Middle Eastern history.
Deadline for applications: 31 January 2025.
Information: https://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=68368
14. “Prix de thèse Islam, Moyen-Orient et mondes musulmans 2025”, IISMM, GIS Moyen-Orient et mondes musulmans
Sont éligibles des travaux soutenus en français ou en France entre le 1er janvier 2023 et le 31 décembre 2024, dans toutes les disciplines des lettres et sciences humaines et sociales. L’organisation de ces prix de thèse entend distinguer des travaux de recherche portant sur l’Islam, le Moyen-Orient et les mondes musul-mans, caractérisés par leur excellence et leur caractère particulièrement innovant en sciences humaines et sociales.
Date limite : 31 janvier 2025. Information : https://iismm.ehess.fr/appel/appel-candidatures-prix-de-these-islam-moyen-orient-et-mondes-musulmans-2025
15. Chapters for Book Project on “The Post/Colonial Eye: Visual Discourses of Empire” (Routledge)
We invite contributions that address issues of representation and the self, visual communication between coloniser and colonised, visual technologies, visual subjectivities, forms of gazing, ethics of looking etc. The second section will focus on how these visual discourses have been and are complicated, challenged, appropriated or potentially reversed in decolonial and postcolonial visual discourse
Deadline for abstracts: 31 January 2025. Information: https://networks.h-net.org/group/announcements/20055700/updated-call-chapter-abstracts-postcolonial-eye-visual-discourses
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- January 18, 2025
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