The Centre for Advanced Study Sofia (CAS), in partnership with the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), is pleased to announce this year’s Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe (SISECSE). CAS and ACLS will convene leading scholars from Eastern Europe and North America for a two-week residency in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria from 13 June 2024 to 29 June 2024.

In 2024, discussions will explore “The Humanities and Interpretive Social Sciences in a Time of Emergency, or Thinking Urgently.” During periods of crisis, whether they are natural disasters, violent conflicts, or global pandemics, the humanities provide critical insights and new perspectives that contribute to our understanding of the human condition, offer solace and reflection, and help us navigate uncertainty. Participants will consider diverse questions: How do the humanities or interpretive social sciences help us make sense of crises and the challenges they present? In what ways can humanistic research foster resilience, empathy, and collective action? How can humanistic scholarship inform policy-making and decision-making processes during emergencies? What distinct perspectives do different fields and disciplines offer?

This program is made possible thanks to a generous donation by Carl and Betty Pforzheimer.