At the annual alumni event on Friday 14 June, cultural historian Peter Burke will discuss interdisciplinarity.
Former NIAS Fellows will be revisiting NIAS on the annual NIAS Fellows Association Day on 14 June 2019. It includes the Uhlenbeck Lecture, named after NIAS’ founder. The NFA Board and NIAS take great pleasure in announcing that Peter Burke, formerly Professor of Cultural History, University of Cambridge and NIAS Fellow 2005, will deliver the 36th Uhlenbeck Lecture.
Uhlenbeck Lecture
In his talk “Specialization: Challenges and Responses”, Peter Burke will sketch the history of interdisciplinarity, viewing it as a response to the rise of the proliferation of disciplines from the mid-19th century onwards. At the undergraduate level, he shall mention the invention of general courses such as “Great Books” and “Western Civilization” and the foundation of universities such as Sussex and Bielefeld that attempted a revival of general education. At the research level, he shall discuss informal groups, clubs, and finally institutes of advanced study from Princeton onwards.
Programme
NIAS Conference Room (Korte Spinhuissteeg 3)
13.30 – 14.00 Refreshments
14.00 – 15.30 General Meeting of the NFA
15.30 – 16.00 Tea and Coffee
16.00 -17.00 Uhlenbeck Lecture by Peter Burke
Fellows’ House (Kloveniersburgwal 23 – home of current fellows)
17.00 Drinks and Dinner
About the NFA
The NIAS Fellows Association, NFA, is the alumni organisation of NIAS. It aims to promote the bonds between all those who have been associated with NIAS. The association was founded in 1977.