Eur-Asian Border Lab – Summer School 2025
Explore Border Dynamics at the Border Lab Summer School 2025
In an increasingly interconnected world, borders are more than just physical demarcations; they are complex, dynamic spaces that shape geopolitics, influence cultural exchanges, and define economic relationships. Programs like the Border Lab Summer School play a transformative role in reimagining how we perceive and study these boundaries. By bringing together emerging scholars, seasoned experts, and interdisciplinary perspectives, this initiative fosters a deeper understanding of borders not just as dividing lines but as spaces of interaction, negotiation, and opportunity. Such programs equip participants with the analytical tools and global networks necessary to challenge conventional narratives, promote cross-regional cooperation, and contribute to policy-making that bridges divides, making them instrumental in reshaping the geopolitics of our time.
The Eur-Asian Border Lab, in collaboration with the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), is hosting the Border Lab Summer School from June 2 to 6, 2025, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
This immersive program is designed for early career researchers (ECRs) in the social sciences, humanities, and related fields, focusing on border studies in Europe or Asia.
Program Highlights
Participants will engage in a variety of activities, including:
- Lectures: Delivered by experts such as Shairbek Dzhuraev, Willem van Schendel, Madeleine Reeves, Nick Megoran, and Asel Murzakulova, covering the latest research and methodologies in border studies.
- Discussion Groups: Facilitated sessions to explore border theories and concepts across different regions.
- Small-Group Feedback: Opportunities to receive constructive critiques on research-in-progress.
- Field Trips: On-site explorations to observe and analyze border dynamics in the region.
- Professional Development Workshops: Sessions aimed at enhancing research skills and academic networking.
Eligibility Criteria
The program is open to:
- PhD Candidates and Postdoctoral Researchers: Engaged in border-related topics within the humanities and social sciences.
- MA Students and Advanced Undergraduates: Considered on a case-by-case basis.
Advanced proficiency in English is required.
The organizers encourage applications from scholars of diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented regions and minority groups.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit the following by 17:00 CET on January 5, 2025:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Detailed academic and professional background.
- Statement of Motivation (up to 1,000 words): Explaining the desire to participate, the nature of the research to be shared, and specific interests in border studies.
- Writing Sample (up to 3,000 words): Demonstrating research capabilities and relevance to border studies.
Applications should be submitted through the designated application portal.
Selected participants will be notified by January 20, 2025.
Financial Support
The program offers:
- Travel Reimbursement: Up to €500 for round-trip economy flights or train travel.
- Accommodation: Six nights, including breakfast.
- Meals: Lunches during the summer school.
Participants are responsible for additional expenses, visa arrangements, and travel insurance.
It’s recommended to secure travel insurance that covers cancellations, as the organizers will not reimburse costs for non-attendance.
About the Eur-Asian Border Lab
Funded through the Horizon Europe Twinning programme, the Eur-Asian Border Lab fosters trans-regional synergies and intellectual conversations among scholars studying borders and bordering across Europe and Asia.
For more information and updates, visit the official website:
borderlab.eu
This summer school represents a unique opportunity for emerging scholars to deepen their understanding of border studies, engage with leading experts, and expand their professional networks in a dynamic and interdisciplinary setting.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 5, 2025
