Centre for the Humanities

Dear Friends,
Since its founding in 2008 the Centre for the Humanities (CfH) at
Utrecht University has proven an exciting initiative for pioneering,
innovative research & research training activities across the faculty
and between this faculty and the rest of Utrecht University.
Through activities such as symposia, seminars and public lectures
the Centre stresses the social relevance of the Humanities in a
broader (non) academic world. This aim is also implemented
through an active arts programme held in conjunction with the
leading festivals in the city of Utrecht.
Moreover, the Centre promotes research in social theories of the
Humanities, with special emphasis on the role of religion in the
public sphere, issues of diversity and tolerance and the notion of
cosmopolitan European citizenship. Through its fellowship scheme
the CfH also sponsors new interdisciplinary areas of the research
on Humanities in the 21st century – notably in the areas of
environmental, cognitive and digital humanities.
Furthermore, the work of the CfH cultivates an international
dimension, with which it aims to profile the faculty and the
university through targeted international activities such
as an active membership within the European Consortium for
Humanities Institutes and Centres (ECHIC).
Contact
Centre for the Humanities
Utrecht University (CfH)
Achter de Dom 20
3512 JP Utrecht
phone +31 (0)30 253 61 37
mon-thu 09.00-17.00
e-mail cfh@uu.nl
www.uu.nl/cfh
design: Taluut photo’s: Wieke Eefting, Cornelie Vermaas printer: Zalsman
Centre for the Humanities
At a time when the Humanities often seem vulnerable I am excited
to be part of this initiative and welcome your involvement in
everything we do.
Rosi Braidotti
Founding Director and Distinguished University Professor

“All of our work on ‘the
academic and the civic’
takes place in the frame
of a programme on
The Centre for the Humanities has
over 20 active Utrecht fellows; This
is next to 4 senior advisors; The CfH
board consists of 4 senior Utrecht staff
members; and the Centre’s director is
supported by 3 staff members.
cosmopolitan citizenship
and the respect for cultural
diversity. These are the
pillars to build a progressive
approach to social
sustainability”
Rosi Braidotti, Autumn 2011
Interfaces Between
the Sciences and the
Humanities
This research theme focuses on the relevance
of the Humanities for the contemporary
world. It critically deals with the diversity of
genealogies of the Humanities, not only
within Europe, but also in a comparative global
perspective. The focus is on the scientific
transformations of the Humanities in the 21st
century, in new cutting-edge perspectives
such as: digital humanities, cognition and
the neural sciences and the question of the
post human.
CfH investigates these themes and the new
forms of interaction between the Humanities,
the Social and the Natural Sciences so as
to develop a culture of mutual respect across
these disciplines.
Social Sustainability
and the Humanities
This interdisciplinary research theme concentrates
on social and cultural theories of sustainability
in the contemporary world, with special
emphasis on studies of globalisation and
their impact on our shared understanding
of the human condition, its place in planetary
history and our ability to self-destruct as well
as to construct sustainable futures.
This project aims at assessing the specific and
original contribution of the Humanities to this
debate in the following areas: Environmental
history; Literary and cultural Eco-criticism; Media
Ecologies; Environmental Media; Environmental
Ethics and Environmental Theology. It focuses
on the analysis of the conditions that may induce
social and political changes towards sustainable
life styles.
The Academic
and the Civic
This research theme investigates the changing
relations between the university as the location
of academic and scientific excellence and its
civic environment, i.e. its social, cultural and
political contexts.
It foregrounds the social responsibility of the
university in the contemporary world.
More concretely the theme promotes a
cosmopolitan practice of citizenship with
respect to cultural diversity, social sustainability
and human rights through a writers-in-residence
programme and a festival fellowship scheme.
‘The Academic and the Civic’ rests on the
assumption that higher education in the
twenty-first century requires the cultivation of
creative and critical thinking as well as more
technical academic skills.
Within Utrecht University the CfH
collaboraties with more than 15
departments, schools and research areas;
In civil society it has 12 Utrecht
cultural partners; The Centre is an active
member of 2 major international
Humanities organization; Within these
the CfH cooperates with more than
40 humanities institutes worldwide.