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, 2023 to December 31, 2024.

We invite scholars to apply for participation in the Working Group "Visualizations and Material Cultures of the Heavens in Eurasia and North Africa (4000 BCE–1700 CE)" of Department III. The Working Group’s research focuses on visual representations and material objects in the creation, change, and movement of astral knowledge across space and time. A growing image database serves as the main tool to collect and research the manifold objects and their imagery, the practices and relations of their production, reproduction and transmission, and their roles in organizing knowledge and creating meaning in different sociocultural contexts like politics, rituals, religion or medicine. We welcome scholars researching the visualization of astral knowledge in any time period before 1500 CE, focusing on one of the following geographical regions: Ancient Near East, Asia Minor, Central Asia, and South Asia.

We welcome applications from scholars who pay particular attention to more than one geographical region with their cross-cultural entanglements, the materiality of the objects carrying visual specimens and various types of contexts in particular with economic implications. Successful applicants are expected to contribute to the overall research agenda of the group for 2023/24 on “Geographies and Economies of VoH”, to actively participate in the further development of the database and the preparation and implementation of the planned academic events (workshop, conference) including their subsequent publications. They are expected to contribute material systematically and comparatively from their research field including its description and interpretation to the image database. They are expected to take part in the scientific life of the Working Group, the Department, and Institute with its many academic activities like conferences, workshops, seminars, and colloquia.

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