World Congress of Environmental History 2024 in Oulu
2024-08-19 - 2024-08-23
From 19 to 23 August, the World Congress of Environmental History will be held at the University of Oulu. The conference theme is “Transitions, Transformations and Transdisciplinarity: Histories beyond History”, emphasizing both the arc of time and the importance of bringing diverse approaches to bear on contemporary problems. WCEH2024 will illuminate the value of historical understandings that go far beyond the discipline of history in treating environmental scholarship as an evolving practice, one that is created in conversation across multiple fields, concerns, and communities – and one that can help strategize the core challenges of transitions that lie ahead.
Several EHL staff will participate (Veraart, van der Staeten, da Silva, van der Vleuten, Kreysel).
Conference website: https://wceh2024.com/

Inaugural lecture prof. dr. Anique Hommels (Maastricht University)
2024-09-13
On September 13 2024, Anique Hommels will accept the Foundation SHT special chair in “Sociohistorical Technology Studies with a focus on Urban Sustainable Sociotechnical Transformations” at the Faculteit der Cultuur- en Maatschappijwetenschappen (FASoS) of Maastricht University.
The title of the lecture: “Transforming Cities in Times of Turmoil – Obduracy, Sustainability and Experimentation”.
Watch online

TRANSFORMATIONS 11th Tensions of Europe Conference (Frankfurt Oder/ Poznan, 19-21 September 2024)
2024-09-21 - 2024-09-23
CfP
Conference website
We live in a world of constant change. There are periods, however, of accelerated change in the political, economic, social or technological sphere. Usually, these spheres are closely interrelated and entangled. If this change is of fundamental character, scientists usually speak of ´transformations´. Common examples are the political and economic system changes, i.e. transformations, in Latin America, Southern Europe or Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in the past decades.
The aim of the conference is to shed light on technological, but also political, societal and environmental sides of these transformations in Europe and other regions in past and present. Technology can be a major factor to enhance, slow down or ease such transformations. Processes of circulation and appropriation of knowledge, ideas and artefacts provide a broad field of research to better understand aspects of political, societal or environmental transformations in connection with technology. Special attention can be paid to the following themes: (1) technologies as a driver of political, societal or environmental changes or as an obstacle, (2) technological “revolutions”, transitions and “transformations” and their impact on politics, societies and environment, (3) discourses on (technological) changes, especially with regard to sustainability.
As a part of the conference, there will be held a summer school for early career scholars in the days before the conference. Besides of discussing texts relevant for the current topic, meetings with established researchers as well as an excursion is planned.
We welcome contributions on topics related to these themes as well as on general themes in the history of technology and neighbouring fields of interest to the Tensions of Europe network such as trans-border flows, common resources, conflicting interests, hidden integration and cultural practices.
The format of proposals should be as follows:

Proposals for whole panels in traditional or alternative formats (panel title, theme description with max. 300 words, abstracts of papers with max. 150 words each, name, affiliation, short biography of participants) (pdf-format)
Proposals for individual papers (title, abstract, affiliation, short biography of applicant)
Proposals for contributions to a “My PhD in 10 minutes” session (abstract, affiliation, short biography)

Please name your file with your surname. Beside of traditional panel-sessions with a number of papers and a commentator, we also encourage different formats and new ideas. The programme committee will not prioritize between formats if the suggestions promise constructive, stimulating and engaging discussion.
The organisers invite applicants to submit proposals by the end of November 2023 to toe24@europa-uni.de. We will inform applicants by 1 March 2024 whether their contribution has been accepted. There will be available a limited number of reduced participation fees.
The Tensions of Europe Conference is organised biennially by an interdisciplinary community of scholars who study the historical shaping of Europe through the lens of technology and material culture. We encourage constructive interactions between historians of technology and scholars from all other fields of the humanities and social sciences.
The 11th Tensions of Europe Conference will be organized by the Center for Interdisciplinary Polish Studies (https://www.zip.europa-uni.de/en/index.html) and the European New School of Digital Studies (https://europeannewschool.eu/). Both are part of the European University Viadrina, which is located in Frankfurt/Oder – a town and region marked by fundamental political, economic and social changes in previous decades and centuries.
Welcome to Frankfurt (Oder) in September 2024!
The programme committee (Dagmara Jajeśniak-Quast, Jan-Hendrik Passoth, Susanne Orth, Falk Flade)
CfP ToE24

ToE12 biennial conference
2024-09-24
The 2026 conference of the European interdisciplinary history of technology network Tensions of Europe will be organized by us. More info will follow.

STUDIUM GENERALE HoT lectures: Ruth Oldenziel on CYCLING CITIES
2024-10-16 12:40 - 13:20 (Europe/Amsterdam)
At October 16, Ruth Oldenziel will give a lecture at Studium Generale, TUE.
More info:
Link

From the SG website:
Cycling Cities

Prof. dr. Ruth Oldenziel
Woensdag 16 oktober , 12:40 – 13:20
Blauwe Zaal, Auditorium
Prijs: Gratis (Student)Gratis (Anderen)

Bestellen

Cycling is second nature to everyone who grew up in the Netherlands. But a cycling culture is not unique to our country! From Africa to North America, this lecture will take you on a global journey to explore what makes cycling thrive in some cities and not in others.

With more than 35,000 kilometers of fully segregated bicycle lanes, the Netherlands is renowned for its bicycle-friendly infrastructure and culture. There are more bicycles than people in the country. This mode of transportation has a significant impact on our economy, health and environment.
It wasn’t always like this, and many factors have contributed to the success of Dutch cycling. The research project Cycling Cities looks at 100 years of cycling policy and practice around the world. Why have some cities become true cycling cities and others not? It traces how policymakers, engineers, cyclists, and community groups have made a difference since the early twentieth century. Innovation in non-motorized mobility is key, and in some cities it is abundant. Ruth Oldenziel discusses how smart cycling innovations in different parts of the world are leading to improved urban mobility and more resilient and livable urban regions.
Prof. dr. Ruth Oldenziel is a Professor for The History of Technology at TU/e and is particularly interested in the relationship between Europe and the United States. Her research focuses on the mutual shaping and exchanging of technological knowledge and practices between Europe and the United States in a transnational context. She has extensively researched the integration of cycling into urban planning and its societal impacts. She directs a research program on Sustainable Urban Mobility since the 1850s (SUM) and is program leader of Cycling Cities: The Global Experience (CC) research project – involving 50 cities in 25 countries. In 2025, a new publication Cycling Cities: The African Experience will be released.
Ticket reservation recommended
To be assured of a seat, we recommend reserving a ticket (black “order” button).
SG & USE/ITEC registration
Please register for SG & USE/ITEC by scanning your student ID at the venue prior to the start of the program.
More information about SG & USE/ITEC can be found here.

Tensions of Europe 12th biennial conference in NL!
2024-11-05 10:54
During the 11th biennial Tensions of Europe Conference in Frankfurt O. last September, we could announce with pleasure that we will host the next conference in the Netherlands.
More info will follow.

Kick-off Dutch interuniversity History of Technology Center
2024-12-06
We hereby cordially invite you to the kick-off event of the new 4TU Centre History of Technology on Friday 6 December 2024 in the old main post-office (currently Neude Public Library) in Utrecht.
The theme of the event is Environmental Histories of Technology in a Digital Age. We aim to identify and explore resonances, joint concerns, possible synergies and identify opportunities to collaborate in research, teaching and engagement; and to discuss how the new interuniversity centre can stimulate and facilitate these.
Interested in participating in the event? Then please register for the event here.

Kick-off event ‘Environmental Histories of Technology in a Digital Age’
Venue
Neude Library – Neude 11, 3512 AE Utrecht
Tentative program
10:00-10:15:
Welcome coffee/tea
10:15– 10:45:
Introduction & Opening
10:45 – 12:00:
Session 1: Building the Centre with PhDs and Postdocs
During this session, PhDs and postdocs will pitch their work, followed by a discussion on the themes and questions that should be(come) part of the Centre’s agenda.
12:00 – 13:00:
Lunch
13:00 – 14:15:
Session 2: Building the Centre within and beyond Academia: next steps for the Global Sustainability Pasts—Presents—Futures agenda
Roundtable. Confirmed panelists: Carola Hein (TU-Delft), Andreas Weber (University of Twente), Harro Maat (Wageningen University & Research), Carianne van Dorst (Nederlands Openluchtmuseum), Abel Streefland (TU-Delft), Vincent Lagendijk (Rathenau Institute. Maastricht University).
14:15 – 14:45:
Coffee break
14:45 – 16:15:
Session 3: Building the Centre together with everyone in the room: research, education and engagement
World café setup with 5-8 themes, 2 rounds.
16:15-16:30
Closing words
16:30-17:00
Drinks
Become part of this evolving new scientific community and join us 6 December 2024!
REGISTER NOW

Erik van der Vleuten (Scientific Director)
Jan Korsten (Managing Director)

STUDIUM GENERALE HoT lectures: Daniel Barber on AFTER COMFORT
2025-01-15 12:40 - 13:20
Daniel Barber, the new TUE professor of architectural history and theory, has kindly accepted to give an SG lecture on AFTER COMFORT. DESIGN BEFORE AIRCONDITIONING (link 1; link2). The event is scheduled for 15 January 2025.

PEOPLES, PLACES, EXCHANGES, CIRCULATION: 27th International Congress of History of Science and Technology
2025-06-29 - 2025-07-05
From June 29 to July 5, the ICHST will host its 27th congress in Ōtepoti Dunedin, New Zealand.
The theme of the 27th ICHST is “Peoples, Places, Exchanges, and Circulation.”
For more information, key dates and to download your symposia proposal template, please visit the congress website

SHOT 2025 Conference
2025-10-09 08:00 - 2025-10-11 17:00 | Luxembourg
The 2025 SHOT Annual Meeting takes place at the Belval Campus of the University of Luxembourg in the second week of September. Meeting dates are 9-11 October 2025.
The meeting will be hosted by the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C2DH).

Cycling Cities [ Exhibition-Book Launch ]
2026-05-19
by Jan Jansen, Ruth Oldenziel, Annemarie de Wildt

On 19 May 2026 (3:00–5:00 p.m.), the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences) announces a book launch and exhibition opening in memory of anthropologist Sabine Luning(1959–2025), a leading researcher and an important contributor to, and inspiration for, the international research and public program Cycling Cities.
Book launch
Sabine Luning’s research was closely connected to Tamale, Ghana, where she conducted long-term fieldwork and examined cycling as an integral aspect of everyday urban life. Her final article, co-authored with historian Samuel Ntewusu and photographer Gideon Asmah, is published as the opening chapter of the volume Cycling Cities: The African Experience, which will be presented during this event.
Opening exhibition
The book launch will be followed by the opening of the exhibit Bicycles Forever, an international exhibition previously shown at Nuku Studio in Tamale and at TU Eindhoven, and now presented at FSW, Leiden University (19 May–4 July 2026).
The exhibit features a curated selection of bicycle narratives that address themes of mobility, resilience, and everyday practices across the African continent, offering insights into the social and cultural dimensions of urban life.
This event provides an opportunity to reflect on Sabine Luning’s academic legacy and to acknowledge her contribution to connecting research, public engagement, and global perspectives.
