The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin, Department III, Artifacts, Action, Knowledge, directed by Prof. Dr. Dagmar Schäfer, offers several Visiting Scholarships (residential, 3–12 months) to take place in the period January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.

We invite scholars to apply for participation in the project “Agriculture and the Making of Sciences (1100-1700)” of Department III. In 2021, the project’s focus will be on the broader theme of “soil”. We welcome researchers working on practices related to soil, such as its classification, fertilization, maintenance, and commodification, as well as how these practices were in relation to fields of knowledge and practices other than agriculture, in the history of East and Southeast Asia, Inner Asia and the Middle East and North Africa. 

We welcome applications from candidates in every field within history, the history of science and technology, archaelogy, philology and art history, and with some preference for research addressing the multilingual and transregional nature of the project. The MPIWG hosts many academic activities: conferences, workshops, brown bag seminars, and colloquia. Visiting scholars are encouraged to combine their research stay with collaborative work.  

Visiting scholars receive a stipend commensurate with experience for their period of residence, and reimbursement for a return ticket to and from their place of residence.  

The successful candidates are expected to take part in the scientific life of the Institute, to advance their own research project, and to actively contribute to the project group activities during their period of affiliation.