Testing Border Theories and Concepts Across Regions
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 2-6 June, 2025
- Are you an Early Career Researcher (ECR) in the social sciences, humanities, or adjacent disciplines, working on border-related research in Europe or Asia?
- Are you excited to test out border theories and concepts with scholars who work in and across different regions?
- Would you enjoy joining other like-minded peers from around the world to share insights and feedback on your research-in-progress?
The Eur-Asian Border Lab, together with the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) invites applications for a week-long programme of workshops, field trips, and lectures to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan between 2-6 June, 2025. The Border Lab Summer School will involve experts who have worked on borders in Central Asia and beyond to discuss some of the most recent research and methodologies in border studies. It will also help ECRs develop their research-in-progress and to encourage networking between the present and next generation of border scholars. The main idea is to create synergies and share theoretical and methodological insights between researchers who focus on different regions and fields in border studies.
Costs
Costs related to round-trip economy flights or train travel will be reimbursed (note: the maximum limit is 500 EUR). Accommodation including breakfast for 6 nights and summer school lunches will be provided. Any extra costs will not be covered. Participants are expected to check their own visa requirements to enter Kyrgyzstan and apply for visas well ahead of time, as well as organize their own travel/medical insurance (the travel costs will not be reimbursed in case of cancellation).
Content
Lectures, discussion groups, feedback in small-group settings, field trips, and professional development workshops.
Confirmed experts include: Shairbek Dzhuraev, Willem van Schendel, Madeleine Reeves, Nick Megoran, and Asel Murzakulova.
Eligibility
PhDs, Postdocs, or other early-stage scholars in the humanities and social sciences working on border-related topics. MA students and advanced undergraduates may also be considered on a case-by-case basis. Advanced level English proficiency is required for participation. We especially encourage scholars from underrepresented regions, minority groups, and diverse backgrounds to apply.
Please note that there will be very limited places (20 at most) in order to keep the workshops small. The final selection will also be focused on ensuring the summer school participation represents a diverse range of backgrounds, regions, academic fields, gender, and career stage, so please understand that if your application is not accepted, it might be because there is too much overlap between backgrounds, regions, academic fields, gender, or career stages.
Application Procedure
We ask for the following to be uploaded in the APPLICATION PORTAL HERE by 17:00 CET on 5 January, 2025:
- CV information
- A statement of motivation (no more than 1000 words), including: why you would like to participate in the summer school, what kind of writing-in-progress you plan to share, and what your research interests in border studies are.
- A short (no more than 3000 words max) writing sample
Participants will be notified by 20 January 2025.
Reimbursement and Cancellation Policy
The organizers will reimburse the travel costs against receipts up to the maximum sum of 500 EUR. Only participants who attended the summer school will be eligible for reimbursement. We will send more detailed instructions later.
We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers cancellation, and/or buying tickets that may be cancelled. We will not reimburse the costs of participants who did not attend the summer school.
In the event of travel disruptions that prevent the participant from attending the summer school, the participant is obliged to seek compensation from the transport carrier in the first place.
The Border Lab Team
Karin Dean, Tallinn University
Jussi Laine, University of Eastern Finland
Tina Harris, University of Amsterdam
Julie McBrien, University of Amsterdam
Polly Pallister-Wilkins, University of Amsterdam
Willem van Schendel, University of Amsterdam
Questions?
Email: info@borderlab.eu