Call for Applications: The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Symposium

The British Academy and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation are inviting applications for early career researchers in the humanities and social sciences to attend a research collaboration symposium on the broad theme of Truth, Justice and Peace which will be held 10-12 June, 2026 in Bonn, Germany.

Aims

The symposium will bring together around 15 early career researchers from the UK and 15 from Germany from across the humanities and social sciences to discuss key questions around the theme of Truth, Justice and Peace. The symposium is designed specifically to encourage collaboration and networking.

In advance of the symposium, participants will be able to discuss their research and exchange ideas among themselves, begin to discuss the session themes and make connections for possible future activities.

Recognising that the humanities and social sciences are critical to illustrating the complexities of histories, societies, cultures and polities, this symposium will aim to draw on a broad range of disciplines and expertise to reimagine notions of truth, justice, and peace for the 21st century.

• How can a re-examination of the categories and concepts used to discuss issues of truth, justice and peace lead to a more nuanced approach to these issues?

 

• How might we understand, for example, the conception, articulation and representation of transitional justice mechanisms past and present in relation to narratives of dignity, shame and identity?

 

• How do differing understandings of truth, justice and peace – within and across groups, communities and nations – not only shape but also potentially hinder or contest the discourses and practices through which sustainable and inclusive peace is pursued?

• How do new forms of knowledge and communication, digital and otherwise, affect these peacebuilding and reconciliation processes?

Read more on the ‘Purpose and Focus’ of the symposium in our scheme notes.

This symposium will aim to draw on the broad range of disciplines and expertise present to explore the way that scholars and communities conceptualise and implement truth, justice and peace, how transitional justice and peace processes inform and are informed by local knowledge, traditions, interests and values, and how senses and histories of identity may be implicated in the pursuit of truth, justice and peace.

The symposium format will allow for extensive discussion and debate, with considerable time set aside for this and wider networking opportunities. In order to incentivise long-term collaboration and networking, seed funding will be made available for which participants can apply.

These collaborations must be international in their makeup and can be either partnerships or groups. Time will be set aside on the final day of the symposium for a ‘sandpit’ style session in which participants write up their proposed collaboration and submit applications by the end of the session.

Eligibility requirements

For the purpose of this symposium, early career is defined as being within a 10-year period from the award of a doctorate. Participants must be based at research institutions in the UK or Germany.

Attendance is mandatory for the entire symposium. If this is not met it will result in a participant not being eligible for the seed funding available.

Participants must be able to travel during dates and times and on trains chosen by the British Academy.

UK-based attendees may only participate in two British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Symposia in any 24-month period.

Selection criteria

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

1. Proven research interest and/or experience in the symposium’s theme
2. Commitment to interdisciplinary engagement and research
3. Value of symposium to applicant’s career development

Application process

Applicants should provide a completed application form submitted online using the British Academy’s Grant Management System (GMS), Flexi-Grant®.

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday 29 October 2025 at 17:00 (GMT). We will seek to notify successful applicants by the end of November.

Logistics

The symposium will take place in Bonn, Germany, from 10-12 June 2026. The costs of travel, visas and accommodation for participants will be covered. Participants should attend the entire symposium programme and be available to travel on transport options chosen by the British Academy.

All travel to and from the symposium will take place by train on Wednesday 10 June. Where necessary, the Academy will provide accommodation on the night of Tuesday 9 June in either Brussels or London to facilitate early arrival at London St Pancras or in Brussels. Departure from Bonn will take place on Saturday 13 June.

Contact details

Email: s.rahman@thebritishacademy.ac.uk