Exploring the RSM Collection: A Health/Humanities Symposium
31st March 2023 14:00 – 17:00 1 Wimpole Street, London,
Free to attend WG1 0AE
Are you a health/humanities researcher with an interest in the history of medicine or emotion? Would your research benefit from this unique opportunity to explore the RSM’s heritage collection and hear from like-minded early-career researchers? This exciting symposium aims to bring early-career researchers together to explore the histories of emotion and medicine within the wider health and medical humanities field. The symposium will encourage papers on a broad range of topics, offering attendees the opportunity to build connections with other scholars across the spectrum of health and medical humanities.
Inspired by the RSM’s current ‘Golden Age of Melancholy’ exhibition, we are seeking contributions for papers on the following topics (see attached flyer for more details)
If you would like to deliver a paper, please send a short (200 word) abstract, working title, and academic bio (max 100 words) to exploringRSM@gmail.com by 28th February 2023. Papers should be no more than 20 minutes in length and will be grouped according to subject matter for a short panel discussion following presentations.
Participants who do not wish to present are more than welcome; just email exploringRSM@gmail.com to reserve a place.
* * * * * *
Wellcome Trust Master’s studentship in History of Medicine/Medical Humanities
The Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine (CHSTM), University of Manchester, invites expressions of interest and applications for a Master’s studentship in Humanities and Social Science, funded by the Wellcome Trust.
As part of their commitment to building an influential and diverse population of future researchers in humanities and social sciences, the Wellcome Trust have provided CHSTM with a number of studentships for one year of taught study on our Master’s programme in History of Science, Technology and Medicine. The studentships cover full-time UK tuition fees for 2023-24, a living allowance and research expenses.
CHSTM is a large, research active group with expertise in medical history and humanities. Competitive applicants will be able to demonstrate a commitment to building a research career in these fields. They will have a clear idea as to their Master’s research project and how this will lead to doctoral study. Potential for synergy with ongoing research at CHSTM would be highly desirable.
Applicants are encouraged to express their interest and discuss potential applications by contacting Dr Duncan Wilson: duncan.wilson@manchester.ac.uk.
Application information and deadlines: Applications should be sent to Dr Wilson at the email address above no later than 3pm on Friday 21st April 2023. Your application should include: a brief CV, with details of undergraduate degree held or being undertaken; details of the research proposed (maximum of two pages), including (a) an outline of a your proposed Master’s-level research project and (b) a short indication of your anticipated doctoral research area; a letter of support from a current academic sponsor. The successful applicant will be chosen by a committee of research-active University of Manchester staff who work across medical history and humanities.
******
Statement by the Society for the Social History of Medicine in Support of Goldsmiths Staff, Minoritised History, and History in the UK
The Society for the Social History of Medicine is alarmed by the announcement of redundancies in History and English and Creative Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London. We are similarly concerned by the series of History losses at Kingston, London South Bank, and Sunderland Universities, among others, with additional threats being reported at Leicester, Aston, Chester, Hull and elsewhere.
We use the word ‘losses’ carefully here, for, in current circumstances, we believe that the loss of historical space is not only a risk to the field, but to society, with skills, insight, and training being lost that would help equip people of all ages and backgrounds with much-needed tools to assess claims of truth. But whilst we write of ‘losses’, let us be clear: we also know that these people, subject areas, and skills are being actively erased.
We stand with our colleagues—academics and administrators—and our students to say that the erasure of experience in areas considered by some as ‘minority’ is simply another form of oppression. Now is the precise time, when the pandemic has laid bare landscapes of inequality, that we need to foreground the histories of b/Black and LGBTQIA+ people, through the lenses of health and medicine, rather than jeopardise pathbreaking courses centred on them, as Goldsmiths’ proposals do.
Our Society’s Values Statement (https://sshm.org/values-of-the-society-for-the-social-history-of-medicine/) underscores how the social history of medicine is multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary by nature. We note that Goldsmiths colleagues working in the histories of race, gender, and sexuality, as well as at their intersection with the history of medicine, are threatened by ‘redundancy’. Yet they are not redundant; they, their work, and the fields to which they contribute are essential. Just as essential are the administrators, who are vital for sustaining the effectiveness and efficiency of departments. Their loss will mean lecturers and tutors will have less time for both teaching and research, which in turn will only diminish students’ experiences.
We agree with and, by including their statements below, seek to amplify the words of other organisations, learned societies, and archives that have lent their weight to supporting staff and students at Goldsmiths. Together, united.
Association for Art History: https://forarthistory.org.uk/conference/2022-annual-conference/
Black Cultural Archives: #SaveGoldsmiths BCA pens letter to the Council & Senior Management Team at Goldsmiths. — Black Cultural Archives.
British Association for Irish Studies: BAIS Open Letter in Support of Colleagues at Goldsmiths | British Association for Irish Studies (wordpress.com)
British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies: BASEES Open Letter on the Proposed Redundancies at Goldsmiths, University of London — Basees
History Workshop Journal: HWJ and HWO editors object to redundancies at Goldsmiths – History Workshop
North American Conference on British Studies: NACBS on Twitter: “The NACBS Executive has released the following statement: https://t.co/2WL9phOAKK” / Twitter.
Royal Historical Society: Goldsmiths, Aston, Kingston, LSBU …. Confronting History’s cuts and closures in 2021 | Historical Transactions (royalhistsoc.org)
Social History Society: Statement on Goldsmiths – The Social History Society
University and College Union: https://www.ucu.org.uk/boycottGoldsmiths
We Are Goldsmiths: https://we-are.gold/2021/10/14/open-letter-to-frances-corner/
Society for the Social History of Medicine 