The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG), Berlin, Department III: Artifacts, Action, Knowledge, directed by Prof. Dr. Dagmar Schäfer, offers several Visiting Scholarships (residential, 3–12 months) to take place within the period from 1 January to 31 December 2022.

We invite scholars to apply for participation in the working group “Agriculture and the Making of Sciences (1100–1700)” of Department III. The working group explores how agricultural practices informed scientific, technological, and medical change from the twelfth to seventeenth centuries, with special focus on the study of extra-European contexts. The working group’s research theme changes annually, and in 2022 it will focus on the annual theme of “water”. We welcome researchers working on agricultural practices related to water, such as irrigation, water harvesting, construction and maintenance of waterworks, or water management. Their research should address the question of how these practices contributed to the development of pre-modern sciences studying water, especially how they were in relation to fields of knowledge and practices other than agriculture.

We welcome applications from candidates in every field within history, the history of science and technology, archeology, philology and art history, and with some preference for research that is multilingual and transregional in nature.

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 working group activities during their period of residence. 

Review of applications will commence from 1 December 2021 and continue until the working group’s capacity is full or until 30 June 2022, whichever is earlier.