Registration: To submit a proposal, send an abstract of 250 words and a short bio to back2thefuture@uantwerpen.be by 15 September 2023 at the latest.
Theme and content
Conducting research on historical future thinking and practice sheds light on how people in the past conceptualised and coped with what lay ahead. Exploring this facet offers insights into how individual and societal perspectives, aspirations, and concerns were projected onto the future.
In recent decades, the theme of time, temporality and the future has gained significant popularity within various academic disciplines. Understanding how different cultures and eras perceive and manipulate time enhances our comprehension of historical context. It enables us to grasp how people structured their narratives of development, anticipated change and grappled with uncertainty.
This November, The ‘Back to the Future’ research team organises a two-day international workshop that welcomes PhD students who deal with past futures from social, cultural and socioeconomic perspectives to apply. Our focus is the pre-modern world. The organisation aims to unite diverse perspectives on the history of the time to come. To create a collaborative platform where various ideas converge, researchers from European universities outside of the Benelux will participate as well.
Programme
The event offers a platform for PhD students to showcase their work through 25 to 30-minute presentations, followed by engaging group discussions. Each PhD participant will give a presentation and participate in the round table discussions. 1.5 hours are reserved for every two attendees, ensuring a thoughtful and engaging experience. The tentative programme can be found below:
Day 1 | Thursday, 23 November
09:30 – 10:00 Coffee & Tea
10:00 – 10:30 Welcome
10:30 – 12:00 2 Speakers & Roundtable
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:30 2 Speakers & Roundtable
14:30 – 15:00 Break
15:00 – 16:30 2 Speakers & Roundtable
16:30 – 17:00 Conclusions / Summary of the Day
19:00 – 21:00 Workshop Dinner (on Voluntary Base)
Day 2 | Friday, 24 November
09:30 – 10:00 Coffee & Tea
10:00 – 10:30 Presentation by ERC Project ‘Back to the Future’
10:30 – 12:00 2 Speakers & Roundtable
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:30 2 Speakers & Roundtable
14:30 – 15:00 Break
15:00 – 16:30 2 Speakers & Roundtable
16:30 – 17:00 Conclusions / Summary of the Day
Preparatory readings
Approximately 50 pages of literature will be announced closer to the workshop date and sent out accordingly.