Source: <http://www.ghil.ac.uk/sems.html>.
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German Historical Institute London
Postgraduate Students’ Conference
The German Historical Institute London held its 7th postgraduate
students’ conference on 9-10 January 2003. Its intention was to give
postgraduate research students in the UK and Ireland working on German
history an opportunity to present their work-in-progress, and to
discuss it with other students working in the same field. The Institute
also aimed to present itself as a research centre for German history in
London, and to introduce postgraduates to the facilities it offers as
well as to the Institute’s Research Fellows.
In selecting students to give a presentation, preference was given to
those in their second or third year who had possibly already spent a
period of research in Germany. Twelve projects in all were introduced
in plenary sessions held over two days. Sessions were devoted to the
early modern period, the nineteenth century, the First World War, the
Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, the 1930s/60s and the GDR. Most of
the papers concentrated on the twentieth century. Participants gave a
short summary of their work containing general ideas, leading
questions, sources, and initial findings, and this was followed by a
discussion.
As well as discussing their subjects and methodologies, the
participants exchanged information about practical difficulties such as
language and transcription problems, how to locate sources, and finding
one’s way around German archives. Information about institutions that
give grants for research in Germany was also exchanged. The German
Historical Institute can offer support here by facilitating contact
with German archives and providing letters of introduction which may be
necessary for students to gain access to archives or specific source
collections. In certain cases it may help students to make contact with
particular German universities and professors. The German Historical
Institute also provides scholarships for research in Germany (see
above).
The coffee and lunch breaks offered ample opportunity for informal
contact. In the closing discussion, participants were asked to express
any criticisms and make suggestions for how the next postgraduate
student conference could be improved. The idea as such proved its worth
over the two days of the conference. The suggestion that separate
conferences should be held on specific periods or themes was rejected
by the majority of participants, who valued the broad range of topics
and the chance to look beyond their own historical horizons. It was
also pointed out that the discussion of methodological problems spanned
all the sessions, and could be treated most effectively in the plenary
sessions.
The GHIL is planning to hold the next postgraduate students’ conference
8-9 January 2004. If you are interested in attending, please inform the
Secretary by 20th September 2003 and include the following details:
- the title of your project,
- when you started it,
- the name of your university and supervisor,
- and whether you have been to Germany for research.
We will contact you in November to let you know whether you have been
selected.
German Historical Institute
17 Bloomsbury Square
London WC1A 2NJ
Tel. +44-(0)20-7309 2050
FAX +44-(0)20-7404 5573
Email: [log in to unmask]
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