"Line 4" - News from Research from Algorithms to the Hohenzollerns

In May and June 2022, the public lecture series "Linie 4 - Neues aus der sozialwissenschaftlichen und historischen Forschung" (Line 4 - News from Social Science and Historical Research) will take place for the sixth time, organised by the Bielefeld Graduate School of History and Sociology (BGHS) in cooperation with the vhs Bielefeld. Five doctoral researchers from the BGHS present their current research in a clear and understandable way and discuss it with the audience at the vhs. The lectures take place on Mondays from 6.15-8 p.m. in the Murnau Hall of the vhs Bielefeld in Ravensberger Park.

On 2 May, historian Tim Rieke will begin with a lecture on German consuls in South America in the 19th century. The focus will not only be on the activities of the consuls, but also on the question of how a historian puts together the puzzle of the various sources and makes sense of it. Christoph Herkströter, also a historian, will then devote himself to the Buchenwald memorial on 16 May and ask how memory is used as a political tool. He compares the perspective of the GDR, which placed anti-fascism in the foreground, with the perspective of the FRG, which was primarily concerned with commemorating victims. After these lectures dealing with official politics, the social scientist Marie-Sophie Borchelt will explore the possibilities of creating solidarity among neighbours through "politics from below" on 30 May. She invites an activist to talk to her about his involvement in grassroots neighbourhood work. On 13 June, the focus will be on a current topic from the world of work. The social scientist Elisa Gensler looks at the use of algorithms in different areas of work and asks about the opportunities and risks that arise for employees. The series concludes on 20 June with historian Jan Gräber's contribution on the inheritance dispute between the state of Brandenburg and the Hohenzollern dynasty. In doing so, he poses the important question: What kind of present does historical scholarship actually produce?

The five lectures offer a small insight into the breadth of academic research conducted at the BGHS. As in previous years, however, the main focus will be on the exchange between the young scholars and the audience at the vhs Bielefeld. Vivid lectures, clever follow-up questions and exciting discussions bring the university and the city of Bielefeld a little closer together.