From the diversity of perspectives to knowledge production

How does scientific understanding actually ‘happen’? And what role do the diverse perspectives of researchers play in knowledge production? The Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) for doctoral researchers, which the BGHS is organising in cooperation with the universities of Bologna, Helsinki, Jaén, Örebro, Paris Cité and Tel Aviv from September to December 2023 on the topic of “Understanding - the researchers' perspectives and knowledge production”, deals with these exciting questions.

In the first part of the programme, which will take place from 25-29 September at Bielefeld University, doctoral researchers from all participating universities will present their research work and discuss it with their colleagues and professors from the universities. The format of the Research Retreat is well known to BGHS members and perfect for international and interdisciplinary exchange. There will also be a one-day workshop to discuss the increasingly important research ethics aspects of the projects. A one-day excursion will then lead to the Stalag 326 memorial site in Senne, where prisoners of war were interned during the Second World War and placed as forced labourers with German industrial companies. This excursion is intended to shed light on the diverse perspectives of the BIP participants and to reflect on the production of knowledge that takes place in the process. And of course there will be many informal opportunities to get to know each other and exchange ideas.

The second part of the BIP will then take place online from October to December in several workshops and block seminars. In addition to workshops on scientific writing and argumentation, there is a Theory Class and a Methods Class in which scientific understanding, which is not at all self-evident, is reflected upon.

Of course, credit points can be earned in the BIP, which can be credited to the various doctoral programmes, including the BGHS.

In preparation for the week in Bielefeld, participants must submit a short text on their research projects and read the texts of the other participants. The international and interdisciplinary composition of the group promises a varied and exciting exchange and opens up the possibility to get to know different processes of knowledge production and to question one’s own ‘self-evident’ understanding.

More information on the BIP is available from the BGHS office from Clara Buitrago at bghs@uni-bielefeld.de and in the flyer. If you would like to participate in the BIP, please also send an email to this address by 30 June 2023.