WIGS/AGS Diversity and Inclusivity Survey

Dear Friends and Colleagues, As a part of our continuing commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity (D&I) in German Studies, Women in German Studies (WIGS) and the Association for German Studies (AGS) have joined forces to create a members’ survey.  The purpose of this survey is to gather information about the diversity of our members …

WIGS Online Teaching Day – A Postgraduate Perspective

In this blog post, PGR Representative Molly Harrabin reflects on the WIGS Teaching Development Day that took place last month. In response to the impact of COVID-19 and the decision by many universities to retain a blended approach to learning, the WIGS ECA Representatives, Corinne Painter and Hilary Potter, organised an online teaching development day …

Deadline Extension: WIGS Book and Essay Prize Competitions (22nd September)

The deadline for the 2021 WIGS Book and Essay Prize competitions has been extended to Wednesday 22 September 2021. We warmly encourage all eligible postgraduate and early career researchers to apply! Please see the terms and conditions below. https://womeningermanstudies.wordpress.com/2021/04/22/wigs-book-prize-and-wigs-postgraduate-essay-prize-competitions-2021/

Women in German Studies presents an Online Teaching Development Day, open to all.

On 8th September 2021 our Early Career Representatives, Corinne Painter and Hilary Potter, and Postgraduate Researcher Representative, Molly Harrabin, are holding a teaching development day for all interested colleagues, in German Studies and beyond. If you’re new to teaching, new to online teaching or just looking to learn new ideas, this day is for you. …

Crossing Thresholds – Women in German Studies Open Conference

In this blog post, ECA Representatives Corinne Painter and Hilary Potter share their perspectives on last month's open conference. The 2021 Women in German Studies Open Conference, hosted by the University of Aberdeen, was held online between 24-26th June. While we were disappointed not to be able to see Aberdeen in person, all attendees were …

Registration opens for Crossing Thresholds – Women in German Studies Open Conference, 24-26th June 2021

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the next Women in German Studies Open Conference (online) on 24-26 June 2021, hosted by the University of Aberdeen. The theme for our Open Conference is ‘Crossing Thresholds’, and five interrelated panels will explore questions relating to this core theme. There will also be …

Welcome to New Committee Members!

We are delighted to announce that Ina Linge will be joining the WIGS committee as Treasurer, taking over from Sarah Pogoda, who has been in post since 2017. Molly Harrabin will be the new Postgraduate Representative, taking over from Chantal Sullivan-Thomsett. The new role of Early Career Academic Representative will be shared by Corinne Painter …

WIGS statement on LGBTQ+ membership

In response to the recent statement by The Diversity, Decolonization, and the German Curriculum Collective Steering Committee, the Black German Heritage and Research Association and others, on attacks on trans rights in the US, and in the light of divisive, often hostile reporting and legislation on trans rights in the UK, the committee of Women …

WIGS Book Prize and WIGS Postgraduate Essay Prize competitions 2021

The WIGS committee is delighted to announce calls for the 2021 WIGS Book Prize (for ECRs) and the 2021 WIGS Postgraduate Essay Prize competitions. Please see below for details. Women in German Studies Essay Prize Women in German Studies are delighted to announce their prize for postgraduate scholarship. Postgraduate members of WIGS are encouraged to …

WIGS Open Conference: Special Panel on Diversity and Inclusivity in German Studies

Open Online Conference University of Aberdeen June 24- 26, 2021 The official theme for the 2021 WIGS Conference is “Crossing Thresholds”.  As a part of this conference, a special call for papers is being issued for a panel of papers that will specifically explore the issues of diversity and inclusivity as they relate to German …

CFP: Crossing Thresholds – Women in German Studies Open Conference, 24-26th June 2021, University of Aberdeen (Online)

Confirmed keynote: Professor I. M. Nick (Germanic Society for Forensic Linguistics) Confirmed special guest: author Hanna Sukare The 2021 Women in German Studies Open Conference will explore the topic of thresholds from across the history, literature, and culture of German-speaking countries. We invite members and non-members, of all genders, to propose papers of 20 minutes …

WIGS Committee Vacancies

A few WIGS committee terms of office are ending at the same time, as a result of which we are advertising the following committee vacancies: Treasurer, Postgraduate Representative, and Early Career Academic Representative (please see below for details). This is an excellent opportunity to hold a position of responsibility in a national professional organisation of …

Appointment of new Diversity and Inclusivity Representative on WIGS Committee

Professor Iman M. Nick We are delighted to announce that Professor Iman M. Nick has been co-opted to serve as the first ever Diversity and Inclusivity Representative on the WIGS Committee. This is a new role that has been created in the light of the #BlackLivesMatter campaign to help make WIGS more inclusive, diverse and welcoming …

WIGS 32nd Annual Conference programme now available

5-7th November 2020, University of Warwick (online) We are excited to announce the programme for the WIGS conference that is taking place virtually across the 5-7th November 2020: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/modernlanguages/academic/ks/womeningermanstudies Due to the online format, the conference will be free to attend for paid-up members. In support of our PG and precarious colleagues, we invite you …

Preview of 32nd Annual WIGS Conference (5-7 November 2020)

Due to the ongoing pandemic, we have decided to take the annual conference online this year. To make the conference work as well as possible, we are also slightly adapting the format and stretching out the schedule. We know that many of you will have additional balls to juggle this year and that you are …

Guidance on Dealing with Staff Sexual Misconduct in Higher Education

We are probably all aware of a number of widely-publicised cases of sexual misconduct at Universities over the past few years.  This is something that concerns our membership: the NUS report ‘Power in the Academy’ (2018) found that women (15.6%), especially LGBTQ+ women (22.9%), and Postgraduates (14.9%) are more likely to be affected than other …

Statement by WIGS Committee on Black Lives Matter

WIGS fully supports the statements by the Coalition of Women in German and the German Studies Association on Black Lives Matter and the importance of tackling inequalities within our discipline. We condemn the violence that has been inflicted on black people in the UK and Ireland, including deaths in custody and direct provision. We support …

Blog Post: ‘New Normals and the Rhetoric of Inevitability’

'The online world offers sparkling possibilities but all that glisters may not be gold in the post-COVID Higher Education landscape.' WIGS-member Dr Hilary Potter has written a thought-provoking guest post on the blog of another WIGS member, Dr Corinne Painter, reflecting on the challenges facing UK universities as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The …

CFA: WIGS Book Prize 2020

Women in German Studies are delighted to announce their prize for first books, sponsored by Peter Lang. Members of WIGS who are preparing their first book for publication are encouraged to submit proposals. All topics within German Studies are welcome. The winning book will be selected by the WIGS committee and a prize award of …

CFA: WIGS Postgraduate Essay Prize

Women in German Studies are delighted to announce their prize for postgraduate scholarship. Postgraduate members of WIGS are encouraged to submit essays on any topic within German Studies. The winning essay will be selected by the WIGS committee and announced at the annual WIGS conference. Winners of the essay prize will receive £100 and the …

Call for Papers

WIGS 32nd Annual Conference Friday 6th and Saturday 7th November 2020, University of Warwick The annual Women in German Studies members' conference will be held at the University of Warwick this November. Abstracts (c.150 words) are invited for papers of about 20 minutes duration, on any topic within German Studies. There will be a workshop …

31st Annual WIGS Conference (Dublin, 8th-9th November 2019): A Postgraduate Perspective

In this blog post, postgraduate member Katherine Calvert reflects on her experiences at the WIGS 31st Annual Conference, which took place in Dublin last month. Despite a 4am start in very heavy rain, I was looking forward to making my way to Dublin for the 31st Annual WIGS conference. This was my second time attending …

Winner of 2019 Book Prize announced!

Yejun Zou, winner of the 2019 WIGS Book Prize, with committee member Catherine Smale. At our annual conference in Dublin last week, we announced the winner and runners-up of the 2019 Women in German Studies Book Prize. The prize, sponsored by Peter Lang, is awarded every year to a female early career researcher in German …

Registration opens for 31st Annual Conference!

We are excited to announce that the registration is now open for the 31st Annual Conference at University College Dublin. Full details of the programme and how to register can be found here:  https://www.ucd.ie/slcl/slclconferencesandevents/wigs2019/. Since the conference coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, it will open with a creative …

31st Annual Conference (8-9th November, UCD): Programme and Registration Details now Online

We are excited to announce that the programme and registration information for the 31st Annual Conference at University College Dublin are now online. Full details can be found here: https://www.ucd.ie/slcl/slclconferencesandevents/wigs2019/wigsconferenceschedule/#d.en.467449. Since the conference coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, it will open with a creative workshop with Dublin-based German …

EXTENDED DEADLINE: 2019 WIGS Book Prize Competition (1st October)

The deadline for the 2019 WIGS Book Prize competition has been extended to 1 October 2019. Eligible ECRs are warmly encouraged to apply! Please see Ts&Cs below. Please note that we are unable to accept proposals for books already under contract /in production. Women in German Studies Book Prize Women in German Studies are delighted to announce their prize …

Annual Committee Meeting 2019

In this blog post, our Irish Representative Siobhán Donovan reports on the recent WIGS committee meeting held at University College Dublin last month. The annual committee meeting took place in Dublin on 25 May, in the UCD School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, host to the annual WIGS members’ conference on 8 and 9 November. …

Introducing our new Secretary and Postgraduate Representative!

As previously announced, we are delighted that Catherine Smale (King's College London) will be taking over as Secretary and Chantal Sullivan-Thomsett (University of Leeds) as Postgraduate Representative on the WIGS committee! In this blog post, they introduce themselves and their work... Chantal Sullivan-Thomsett (University of Leeds) Hi, my name is Chantal Sullivan-Thomsett and I am …

Extended Deadline: WIGS 31st Annual Conference

We have decided to extend the deadline for the CfP for the WIGS 31st Annual Conference in Dublin. Please submit your abstracts by 18th May! WIGS 31st Annual Conference Friday 8 and Saturday 9 November 2019, University College Dublin The annual Women in German Studies members’ conference will be held in Ireland this November, at …

Reminder: CFP deadline (11 May 2019) for WIGS 31st Annual Conference

There are just 10 days left to get your abstracts in for the WIGS 31st Annual Conference. Don't miss it!CALL FOR PAPERS WIGS 31st Annual Conference Friday 8th and Saturday 9 November 2019, University College Dublin The annual Women in German Studies members’ conference will be held in Ireland this November, at University College Dublin …

WIGS Book Prize and WIGS Postgraduate Essay Prize competitions 2019

The WIGS committee is delighted to announce calls for the 2019 WIGS Book Prize (for ECRs) and the 2019 WIGS Postgraduate Essay Prize competitions. Please see below for details. Women in German Studies Book Prize Women in German Studies are delighted to announce their prize for first books, sponsored by Peter Lang. Members of WIGS …

New WIGS Committee Members

WIGS is delighted to announce that Catherine Smale will be the new WIGS Secretary, taking over from Katya Krylova who has been in post since 2015. Many thanks for your amazing commitment over the past years, Katya, and a warm welcome to Catherine! Chantal Sullivan-Thomsett will be the new WIGS PG Rep, taking over from Mary …

CfP: WIGS 31st Annual Conference (8 and 9 November 2019, University College Dublin)

CALL FOR PAPERS WIGS 31st Annual Conference Friday 8 and Saturday 9 November 2019, University College Dublin The annual Women in German Studies members’ conference will be held in Ireland this November, at University College Dublin (UCD). Abstracts (c.150 words) are invited for papers of about 20 minutes duration, on any topic within German Studies. …

New WIGS Chair

WIGS is delighted to announce that Professor Ingrid Sharp (Leeds University) has agreed to take over as Chair of WIGS from January 2019. Dr Brigid Haines (Swansea University), who has been WIGS Chair for the last three years, is stepping down from the role. Brigid says ‘It has been an enormous privilege to lead this …

Top tips for presenting your first research paper

Jennifer Caisley is a PhD student at Peterhouse, Cambridge, researching the reading of Goethe's literary works in conjunction with his scientific writings. In this post, she offers some advice to fellow PhD students about presenting your first research paper. I remember the weeks prior to giving my first paper, in the second term of my …

Tribute to Anthea Bell

This is a guest post by Dr Heike Bartel (University of Nottingham), originally delivered as a tribute to Anthea Bell at the WIGS AGM on 10 November 2018, as part of the WIGS 30th Anniversary Conference at Aston University. Together with many colleagues and friends we were very saddened to hear of the death of …

WIGS Book and Essay Prize winners announced

At our online conference in November, hosted by the University of Warwick, we announced the winners of the WIGS Book and Essay Prize competitions. We are delighted that the 2020 WIGS Book Prize, sponsored by Peter Lang, is presented to Doriane Zerka for her research entitled Imagining Iberia in Medieval German Literature. The judges noted …

Katherine Calvert wins 2020 Sylvia Naish Lecture Competition

Congratulations to postgraduate member Katherine Calvert, who has been announced as the winner of the 2020 Sylvia Naish Lecture Competition, run by the Institute of Modern Languages Research. Each year, the winner of the competition is selected from among the proposals submitted by research students registered for higher degrees at Universities in the United Kingdom. …

Annual Committee Meeting 2020

In this blog post, our Early Career Representative Cyd Sturgess reports back on the recent WiGS committee meeting with our hosts from the University of Warwick last month.

Call for Guest Editors: Feminist German Studies

The editors of Feminist German Studies invite proposals for a special guest-edited issue of the premiere journal for feminist approaches to German literature, culture, and language, including pedagogy.