Our vision for 2020 is to have empowered Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) in the Humanities to become aware of their pivotal role in shaping the future of Europe. In an era of increasingly fast societal and technical transformations, with global and transcultural processes involving constant redefinitions of culture, life, nature and climate, excellent Humanities are highly required. While over-simplifying and distorting policy options are gaining popularity, Europe needs a new generation of ESRs that is able to comprehensively contextualise knowledge and to inquire into complexly entangled multiple perspectives.

Thus, excellent research in the Humanities has to make use of its production of knowledge about history, identity, arts, culture and ethics to maximise its returns to society and help Europe cope with issues like climate change, migration, demographic change, populisms or economic instabilities. Dealing scientifically with such sensitive topics from an anthropological and ethical point of view, the broadened horizon of the Humanities can enable contemporary European societies to better understand unexpected changes and equip them with the right tools to deal with ongoing societal challenges.

Encouraged to explore the relevance of their own research topics through public engagement, ESRs at a.r.t.e.s. EUmanities will have an increased awareness for their own potential in mediating sensitive and complex issues to make them accessible to different addressees. Trained to present in interdisciplinary and multilingual academic contexts, they will furthermore be equipped for the intergenerational and intercultural mediation of research results to younger students or older citizens at schools and in other educational institutions (e.g. outreach and public engagement activities at public events, in museums and the media). Reaching a wider public, they will realise the responsibility of the Humanities to inform public debates for more inclusive, innovative and reflective societies in the EU. In 2020, the future alumni of a.r.t.e.s. EUmanities will be equipped to improve and lead global research discussions and to guide societal debates in the framework of transnational democratic institutions.

a.r.t.e.s. EUmanities has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 713600.

Details:
Call: H2020-MSCA-COFUND-2015 | Proposal: 713600 – artes EUmanities
CORDIS: http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/203182_de.html