[Commlist] Call for applications Spring School Human Differentiation

*International and Interdisciplinary Spring School*

**

*HUMAN DIFFERENTIATION:  UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURAL MAKING OF HUMAN 
CATEGORIES*

**

*April 2–10, 2025*

*Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany *

*Deadline: October 1, 2024*

Focusing on the role of differentiation and its significance for lived 
experience, the Collaborative Research Center 1482 “Studies in Human 
Differentiation” [Humandifferenzierung] invites you to apply for a 
spring school at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany in April 2025.

This year’s spring school pays specific attention to the processes of 
differentiation and categorization and traces them along different axes, 
such as dis/ability, gender, sexuality, race, religion, age, class or 
human/non-human (such as animals or machines). By taking the temporal 
variability of processes of differentiation into account, we ask: how is 
difference textured, diluted, and performed? The spring school thus ties 
into a variety of contexts and relates to different fields, such as 
spatial planning, the formation of institutions, verbal and non-verbal 
communication, technology, diverse forms of representation, and other 
cultural practices.

Drawing from a wide range of disciplines, the spring school provides an 
innovative and interdisciplinary environment, based on the input and 
experiences of the scholars of the Collaborative Research Centre at 
Mainz as well as international speakers and, most importantly, the 
presence of international doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. The 
program not only offers focused workshops and keynotes by renowned 
speakers from different disciplines, but also provides the chance for 
self-directed writing retreats as well as an inspiring leisure program 
in the vibrant student city of Mainz.

*Together we want to investigate questions such as:*
  * How are differentiations between people constructed and which
    markers are they based on?
  * What are the historical and geo-political contexts of specific kinds
    of differentiation?
  * Which institutions, technologies, and infrastructures govern
    practices of differentiation?
  * What are the effects of differentiation and how might they impact
    access to public resources, discourses and social participation?
  * What are the (inter-)personal, cognitive dimensions of
    differentiation and how do they relate to affect?
  * Which contexts – places/spaces/times – and purposes of
    differentiation can be identified?

*With keynote lectures, workshops, and discussions by*
Mia Bay, Mehita Iqani, Angelika Linke, Anna Ripatti, Mithu Sanyal, 
Ashley Shew, Anne Schult, Ori Schwarz, and Robin Smith as well as 
Gabriele Schabacher and other members of our CRC.

The call may be of interest to pre/postdocs in media and communication 
interested in processes and practices of identity construction. There 
are established media studies scholars among the speakers, and the 
organisers welcome applications from anyone working in or adjacent to 
the field as well.

*Application*

We are excited to host an interdisciplinary and international group of 
doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. We therefore welcome applications 
from all disciplines (in the cultural and social sciences as well as the 
humanities). To apply, please send us a short description of your 
current project (between 1 and 2 pages) and a CV in English. In your 
description, please outline your topic, methods, current stage in the 
process, and how your project relates to the overarching topics of the 
spring school. How do you imagine your project will benefit from 
discussions of approaches, methods, theories, or case studies regarding 
practices of human categorization?

Please submit the above-mentioned documents in one PDF-file via e-mail 
to (springschool1482 /at/ uni-mainz.de) <mailto:(springschool1482 /at/ uni-mainz.de)> 
*by October 1st, 2024.*

Please check our homepage for updates: 
https://humandifferenzierung.uni-mainz.de/en/event/spring_school_2025 
<https://humandifferenzierung.uni-mainz.de/en/event/spring_school_2025>

*Accessibility*

We are dedicated to provide a spring school that is as accessible as 
possible to every participant. Please use your application to let us 
know about specific access needs and further support requests, for 
instance regarding our conference space and schedule or childcare 
options, so we can include them specifically in our planning.

Mirjam Kreuser ((m.kreuser /at/ uni-mainz.de) <mailto:(m.kreuser /at/ uni-mainz.de)>) 
and Miriam Brunnengraeber ((m.brunnengraeber /at/ uni-mainz.de) 
<mailto:(m.brunnengraeber /at/ uni-mainz.de)>) will be responsible for the 
accessibility coordination and can be approached specifically concerning 
access questions before and during the conference.

**

*Funding*

Participants are responsible for organizing and financing their own 
travel and accommodation. If funding cannot be provided by the 
participant's home institution, the CRC will do its best to provide 
logistical and financial support.

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