Reminder: AATSEEL Book Award Nominations Due May 1

Please consider submitting a recently published book for the annual Book Award of the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages. We offer prizes in the following categories:

• Best first book
• Best book in literary studies
• Best edited multi-author scholarly volume
• Best literary/scholarly translation into English
• Best book in linguistics and language pedagogy
• The Svetlana Boym Best Book in Cultural Studies Prize

You can review eligibility and submission requirements on our website. Find the nomination form here. 

Nominations must be submitted by May 1, 2026.

CFP: Online Talk Series “The Human–Animal Bond in Eastern and East-Central Europe” (Oct 2026–Feb 2027)

Overview

Animals have long occupied an ambivalent place in human societies,
serving as sources of food, labor, and material resources while also
becoming central objects of scientific experimentation and cultural
inspiration. At the same time, they have increasingly become subjects of
ethical consideration, raising questions about agency, suffering, and
dignity. As inhabitants of a shared world, animals have been shaped by
humans and have, in turn, played a crucial role in defining the human
itself. By positing a sharp distinction between mind and matter,
Cartesian dualism grounded the identification of the human in opposition
to the non-human—a process that, as Giorgio Agamben argues with his
concept of the anthropological machine, continues to this day.
Consequently, to speak about animals in the broadest sense is also to
speak about humans.

Scientific research on animals, as well as the origins of zoology, can
in part be traced back to Aristotle. The long nineteenth century, from
the late eighteenth century to the outbreak of the First World War,
witnessed profound transformations in the understanding of animals.
Developments in physiology, medicine, and the natural sciences made
animals indispensable to experimental research and contributed to
advances in zoology. At the same time, literary, philosophical, and
public debates increasingly addressed the moral implications of their
treatment. Animals thus emerged as crucial figures in discussions of
life, consciousness, morality, and the place of human beings within the
natural world.

Within the culturally diverse contexts of Eastern and Eastern-Central
Europe, including the territories of the Romanov (Russian) Empire, the
Habsburg Monarchy, and the Ottoman Empire, these developments
intersected with broader intellectual transformations. Religious
traditions encountered emerging scientific and philosophical
perspectives that redefined the relationship between humans and animals.
Influenced by evolutionary thought and modern science, humans were
increasingly understood not as separate from nature, but as its most
highly developed animals.

Aims of the Lecture Series

This lecture series explores discourses and knowledge about animals and
the human–animal relationship throughout the long nineteenth century in
Eastern- and Eastern-Central Europe. Key questions include: What ideas
and concepts regarding animals and the human–animal relationship were
prevalent in the natural and social sciences, the humanities, and
religion? How were scientific findings adapted and reinterpreted in
literature and culture? What imaginative or counter-concepts of animals
emerged in literary and cultural contexts? Finally, the series examines
how practices of dealing with animals shaped ethical reflections on
their treatment.

We invite contributions that explore how animals and the human-animal
relationship were represented, conceptualized, and contested within the
intellectual, literary, and scientific cultures of the period. By
bringing together perspectives from literary studies, philosophy, the
history of science, and cultural history, the seminar aims to illuminate
the role of animals in shaping modern debates about nature, knowledge,
and humanity in Eastern- and Eastern-Central Europe.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
·       Animals in scientific experimentation, particularly in physiology,
medicine, and psychology
·       Historical case studies of experimental practices involving animals,
including ethical and epistemological implications
·       Literary representations of animals and their role in moral,
philosophical, or social debates
·       Animals in public culture: zoos, exhibitions, popular science, and
visual representation
·       Early vegetarian movements and other refusals to consume animal
products, including their theoretical foundations and motivations
·       Discourses on animal suffering, compassion, and early animal
protection movements
·       Religious perspectives on animals in interaction with scientific and
modernist discourses
·       Changing conceptions of the human–animal relationship in the context
of evolutionary thought and modern science

The online talk series forms part of a broader initiative to establish a
research network and prepare a series of publications.

Submission Guidelines
·       Abstract: 250–300 words
·       Short Bio: 100 words
·       Deadline for Submission: 15.06.2026
·       Notification of Acceptance: July 2026
·       Submission Email: humanimalbond@gmail.com

Seminar Details
·       Format: Online
·       Duration: 1h30
·       Presentation Length: 30 minutes, followed by discussion
·       Monthly October 2026 – February 2027 every third Friday

Organizers
Dr. Nadine Menzel (Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg,
nadine.menzel@uni-bamberg.de)
Dr. Maxim Demin (Ruhr-Universität Bochum,
Maksim.Demin@ruhr-uni-bochum.de)

Reminder: May 1 Deadline for Fall 2026 Study Abroad

A brief reminder that the application deadline for SRAS Fall 2026 study abroad programs is May 1.

Our fall programs offer students the opportunity to engage directly with the Baltics, Central/Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia through field-based, regionally focused study. Coursework spans disciplines including international relations, history, media, and cultural studies, combining disciplinary coursework with language study in Russian and other regional languages.

Fall 2026 programs include:

• Baltic Security and the Information Environment — Riga, Latvia
• Identity and Conflict in the Caucasus (ICON) — Tbilisi, Georgia (with regional travel)
• Central Asian Studies — Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (with regional travel)
• Security & Diplomacy: CEE Perspectives (Warsaw, Poland)
• Russian as a Second Language (RSL) — Bishkek, Tbilisi, and Riga

Across programs, students combine classroom learning with structured fieldwork and regional travel, engaging with the historical, political, and cultural dynamics of the areas they study.

Call for Papers: Migrating Theories: Humanities Dialogues between Central-Eastern Europe and the Ibero-American World

Migrating Theories: Humanities Dialogues between Central-Eastern Europe and the Ibero-American World

To Mark the Centenary of the Prague Circle (1926–2026)

International Conference

 

Date: September 17–18, 2026

Location: Bogotá, Colombia

Languages: Spanish, Portuguese, and English

Format: In-person and virtual

 

Submission Deadline: May 25, 2026 (send to:  praga26FCH_bog@unal.edu.co)

More details:  https://www.humanas.unal.edu.co/2026/unidades-academicas/departamentos/literatura/eventos/teorias-errantes

In 2026, the centenary of the founding of the Prague Linguistic Circle will be commemorated—one of the most influential institutions in the history of linguistics, aesthetics, and literary theory in the twentieth century. Celebrations organized worldwide acknowledge the global impact of the Prague School and its decisive role in shaping modern studies of the sign, the aesthetic function, and the structure of the work of art.

 

Although the reception of the Circle’s thought in the Ibero-American world has been fragmentary, Colombia has played a notable role in its study and dissemination. This is largely due to the pioneering work of Professor Jarmila Jandová (1942–2019), a graduate of Charles University in Prague, who, after her studies at the Andrés Bello Seminar, introduced the teaching of Jan Mukařovský’s aesthetics in the country and promoted the translation into Spanish of fundamental texts of the Prague School. The collaboration between Jandová and the Hispanist and literary theorist Emil Volek made possible the publication—by the National University of Colombia—of Sign, Function and Value: The Aesthetics and Semiotics of Art by Jan Mukařovský (2000, 2020) and Theatrical Theory of the Prague School: From Phenomenology to Performative Semiotics (2013). These works provided Spanish-speaking readers with terminologically precise and coherent translations, accompanied by a solid critical apparatus that consolidated the presence of Prague School thought in the Hispanic world.

 

This work is complemented by the figure of the Hispanist Oldřich Bělič (1920–2002), who, in close collaboration with the Instituto Caro y Cuervo, published in Bogotá in 2000 his monumental work Spanish Verse and European Verse: Introduction to the Theory of Spanish Verse in the European Context. In it, he brought Slavic versification theory into dialogue with the Hispanic metrical tradition, thus opening a previously unexplored field of comparative study.

 

The event “Migrating Theories: Dialogues in the Humanities between East-Central Europe and the Ibero-American World. One Hundred Years after the Prague Circle (1926–2026)” aims to celebrate this centenary from Bogotá, recognizing the history of reception, translation, and teaching of Prague School theory, as well as the intellectual links between Prague, Latin America, and Spain.

 

At the same time, the conference seeks to broaden the scope of reflection toward theoretical dialogues between East-Central Europe and the Ibero-American world, incorporating traditions from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Russia, among others. This perspective encompasses not only the legacies of Russian formalism and Prague structuralism but also contributions from philosophy, linguistics, and aesthetics developed in the region. Figures such as Georg Lukács, Roman Ingarden, Jan Patočka, and Mircea Eliade demonstrate the breadth and vitality of a body of thought that decisively transformed contemporary ways of conceiving the humanities.

 

Thematic Areas

• The legacy of the Prague Linguistic Circle: relevance, reinterpretations, and contemporary projections.
• Theoretical dialogues between the Ibero-American world and East-Central Europe: linguistics, philosophy, literary theory, and aesthetics.
• Histories of translation and reception: circulation, appropriations, and reinterpretations of East-Central European theoretical thought in the Ibero-American world.
• Contemporary digital humanities and the legacies of structuralism.
• Cross-readings: Ibero-American culture in light of East-Central European theories.
• The Prague School and contemporary artistic practices.

 

Submission of Proposals: 

Proposals should include the title of the paper, a 300-word abstract, and a short biography (up to 100 words). Please send submissions to praga26FCH_bog@unal.edu.co by May 25, 2026. Notifications of acceptance will be sent on June 15, 2026.

 

Partner Organizations

• Research Group “History and Literature” (National University of Colombia).
• Research Group “Pensar Sonido” (National University of Colombia).
• Grupo de investigación TRANSFER. Comparative Literature and Translation Studies Research Group (Autonomous University of Madrid).
• Ibero-American Network of Russian and Slavic Studies.
• Atlas. Research Seedbed in World Literature (Department of Literature, National University of Colombia)

RSA Central and Eastern Europe Conference, 14-16 September 2026, Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poland

Resilience, Realignment, and Renaissance: Territorial Transformations in Central and Eastern Europe
14-16 September 2026

Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poland

The Regional Studies Association’s fifth Central and Eastern Europe Conference 2026 is being held in partnership with Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poland. This three-day event will bring together academics, policymakers, and researchers to share insights, perspectives, and the latest findings in regional studies, economic development, policy, and planning.

Central and Eastern Europe is having to navigate geopolitical turbulence and economic realignment at the national level, while recognising and operating through a complex mosaic of subnational regions with deeply varied prospects, vulnerabilities, and opportunities. Current developments be they political, economic, demographic, or environmental are producing highly differentiated territorial impacts. A sustained focus on regional and subnational dynamics reveals both the persistence of old divides and the emergence of new growth poles or lagging peripheries, calling for truly place-based strategies. What’s more, on the eve of budgetary shifts in the EU understanding the role of regions should be studied and debated to the even bigger extent.

Conference Themes

1. Geopolitical Realignment and Regional Security

2. Economic Resilience, Recovery & Inequality at the Territorial

3. Green Transition: Place-Based Impacts and Opportunities

4. Demographic Shifts: Local Challenges and Regional Responses

5. Digital and Innovation Divides

6. Societal and Civic Resilience at the Local Level

7. Spatial Inequalities and Regional Development Pathways

8. Territorial Governance and Multi-Scalar Policymaking

The event is inclusive and offers networking opportunities for all in our field. The organisers welcome proposals for special sessions, themed workshops and innovative forms of networking and collaboration. For more detailed information on the conference, themes and special sessions already submitted:

Conference Webpage: https://www.regionalstudies.org/events/2026cee/

Submission Details:

Special Sessions: 12^th May 2026
Abstracts: 19^th May 2026 (up to 250 words and text only)

Please click here to submit your abstract, special session proposal and for more information on the conference.

2026 Medieval Slavic Summer Institute

https://rcmss.osu.edu/mssi

Visiting Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures

Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian and Central European Studies

Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures

College of Arts and Sciences

 

Position Overview 

The Ohio State University Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures seeks a versatile teacher and scholar for a visiting assistant professorship in the 2026-2027 academic year. The salary is $55,000 plus benefits and the load is 3 courses per semester, with a one course release for service (i.e. effectively 3-2). Our expectation is that the colleague will serve as a member of the undergraduate committee and advisor of 1-2 language or other club(s) and will design and offer 1 undergraduate career readiness workshop each semester.  The university will not sponsor candidates for work visas for this position.

Performance Objectives 

We are seeking to hire a colleague with:

·      The ability to teach a broad range of courses including culture, film, and literature classes and potentially language, in person and possibly in an asynchronous online format. 

·      Candidates must have a PhD [in hand by August 2026]; evidence of successful teaching at a U.S.-based institution

·      Proficiency in two languages and cultures (including Russian [required] and either Czech or Ukrainian). 

·      Expertise in Digital Humanities desired. Research-active scholars are encouraged to apply. 

·      Serve as a member of the undergraduate committee and advisor of 1-2 language or other club(s)

·      Design and offer 1 undergraduate career readiness workshop each semester

 

Education and Experience Requirements

Required: PhD [in hand by August 2026]; evidence of successful teaching at a U.S.-based institution; and proficiency in two languages and cultures (including Russian [required])

Desired: Second language can be Czech or Ukrainian; others considered; expertise in Digital Humanities desired; research-active scholars are encouraged to apply.

 

Additional Information

The salary is $55,000 plus benefits. The offer for this position will be based on internal equity and the candidate's qualifications. Position is potentially renewable for 1-2 years depending on performance and department needs.

Ohio State provides access to a depth and breadth of opportunities and resources. Starting your first day, Ohio State offers you a comprehensive benefits package.

 

How to Apply

To be considered, please submit your application electronically via Workday: External OSU Careers: https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/Visiting-Assistant-Professor-of-Russian-and-Central-European-Studies_R140532-2; Internal Employee Career Site: https://www.myworkday.com/osu/d/inst/15$392530/9925$335773.htmld

Application materials must include: 

 

Application closes January 29, 2026

 

Required:

q Cover letter

q Curriculum Vitae (CV)

q Statement of Research

q Statement of Teaching and Mentoring

 

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. Additionally, there may be further requirements specific to the college or unit, which could include drug and health screenings, as well as faculty misconduct checks depending on the rank of the position.

Tartu Conference on East European and Eurasian Studies - deadline approaching

10th Annual Tartu Conference on East European and Eurasian Studies: “Global Flows and Frictions in Eastern Europe and Eurasia”

10-12 June 2026 University of Tartu, Estonia

The Centre for East European and Eurasian Studies (CEURUS) at the University of Tartu invites proposals for full panels, roundtables, and individual papers for its 2026 annual conference. The Tartu Conference on East European and Eurasian Studies provides an academic forum that brings together scholars from area studies, comparative politics, international relations, economics, history, sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, and related disciplines to discuss topics and questions affecting all aspects of life in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.

Submissions are welcome until 25 January 2026.

CONFERENCE THEME

The 10th edition of the Tartu Conference invites participants to reflect on the effects of (de-)globalization across Eastern Europe and Eurasia. We welcome contributions that critically examine how people, ideas, capital, information, technology, and goods have moved across borders, fostering various forms of integration and interdependence in the past and present. Papers exploring the potential benefits of global entanglements – such as cultural transfers, transnational solidarities, or regional and international security cooperation in defence, intelligence sharing, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding – are encouraged, as are studies addressing the challenges of increasing globalization and its possible harmful effects, like cyber vulnerabilities, geopolitical dependencies, and the spread of disinformation. We are equally interested in investigations into the local and everyday impacts of globalization, such as economic inequalities and regional disparities, brain drain and demographic decline, and climate change and environmental degradation, shedding light on who benefits and who is marginalized or excluded.

We also welcome submissions that engage with contestations of globalization or the impact of anti-globalization political discourse and policies in the region. This may include processes of fragmentation, disentanglement, and the (potential) shift to multipolarity in the international order; the rise of anti-globalist sentiment, challenges to liberal internationalism, liberal democracy, and populist movements; and processes of re-regionalization and the reassertion of national identities.

In line with these themes, this year’s keynote lecture will be delivered by Dace Dzenovska, Associate Professor in the Anthropology of Migration at the University of Oxford and Principal Investigator of the ERC-funded Emptiness project. Her research examines “emptying places” in Latvia, Ukraine, Armenia, and Russia, shedding light on how the movement of people, flows of capital, and changes in political authority are reshaping the world we live in.

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

•  We invite submissions for panels, roundtables, and individual papers addressing the conference theme, as well as other topics relevant to the past and present developments across Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Comparative research, as well as interdisciplinary perspectives, are welcome. The Programme Committee will consider all proposals, however, full panel proposals are encouraged.
• Paper proposals consist of an abstract of no more than 250 words. Panel and roundtable proposals should list all speakers (3 or 4 per panel/roundtable), along with their paper abstracts and, if available, information about the chair and the discussant (alternatively, these can be assigned later by the Programme Committee). In the formation of panels, we are committed to promoting diversity in gender, career stage, and institutional/country affiliations to foster a broad range of perspectives and enhance scholarly dialogue.

DEADLINE AND FEES

• The deadline to submit proposals is 25 January 2026.
• Notifications of acceptance will be sent by email by 25 February.
• Accepted participants will be expected to register by 24 April and pay a registration fee of 120 euros. Students are eligible for a reduced fee of 80 euros.

For scholars whose primary affiliation is with an institution in Ukraine, participation fees will be waived. Please note that all participants are expected to attend in-person and we are unable to accommodate requests for online participation or proposals for hybrid sessions.

For more information, please visit the conference website: https://tartuconference.ut.ee

Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian and Central European Studies, The Ohio State University Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures

Position Overview 

The Ohio State University Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures seeks a versatile teacher and scholar for a visiting assistant professorship in the 2026-2027 academic year. The salary is $55,000 plus benefits and the load is 3 courses per semester, with a one course release for service (i.e. effectively 3-2). Our expectation is that the colleague will serve as a member of the undergraduate committee and advisor of 1-2 language or other club(s) and will design and offer 1 undergraduate career readiness workshop each semester.  The university will not sponsor candidates for work visas for this position.

Performance Objectives 

We are seeking to hire a colleague with:

·      The ability to teach a broad range of courses including culture, film, and literature classes and potentially language, in person and possibly in an asynchronous online format. 

·      Candidates must have a PhD [in hand by August 2026]; evidence of successful teaching at a U.S.-based institution

·      Proficiency in two languages and cultures (including Russian [required] and either Czech or Ukrainian). 

·      Expertise in Digital Humanities desired. Research-active scholars are encouraged to apply. 

·      Serve as a member of the undergraduate committee and advisor of 1-2 language or other club(s)

·      Design and offer 1 undergraduate career readiness workshop each semester

 

Education and Experience Requirements

Required: PhD [in hand by August 2026]; evidence of successful teaching at a U.S.-based institution; and proficiency in two languages and cultures (including Russian [required])

Desired: Second language can be Czech or Ukrainian; others considered; expertise in Digital Humanities desired; research-active scholars are encouraged to apply.

 

Additional Information

The salary is $55,000 plus benefits. The offer for this position will be based on internal equity and the candidate's qualifications. Position is potentially renewable for 1-2 years depending on performance and department needs.

Ohio State provides access to a depth and breadth of opportunities and resources. Starting your first day, Ohio State offers you a comprehensive benefits package.

 

How to Apply

To be considered, please submit your application electronically via Workday: External OSU Careers: https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/Visiting-Assistant-Professor-of-Russian-and-Central-European-Studies_R140532-2; Internal Employee Career Site: https://www.myworkday.com/osu/d/inst/15$392530/9925$335773.htmld

Application materials must include: 

 

Application closes 01/15/2026

 

Required:

q Cover letter

q Curriculum Vitae (CV)

q Statement of Research

q Statement of Teaching and Mentoring

 

 

The College 

With more than 80 majors and 100 minors, the College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of the Ohio State University. The Arts and Sciences provides extraordinary opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, blending creativity and analysis to truly be at the forefront of thought. The breadth and depth of knowledge in the college gives students and researchers the critical thinking and adaptability essential for a lifetime of success. 

 

Department Information 

In the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures at the Ohio State University, students explore languages, literatures, films, linguistics, and cultures. Our world-class faculty and highly trained instructors prepare students for opportunities to study abroad across Eastern Europe and Eurasia, to interact with émigré populations anywhere in the world, to pursue work in the field of their choice with confidence.

 

The University 

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America’s leading academic health centers. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

 

Grounded in Ohio State University’s Shared Values, our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

 

Ohio State is a dynamic community where opportunity thrives, and individuals transform themselves and their world. Positions are available in countless fields and specialties. Become a Buckeye and contribute to an incredible legacy that serves to guide our future and shape a better tomorrow.

 

The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established central resources to focus on offering support to new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual career partner consultation, potential employer and/or employment opportunity identification, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community.  While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are available.  More information about dual career and faculty recruitment can be found here. 

 

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies.  Ohio State is a member of the Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania & West Virginia HERC. 

 

Located in Ohio’s capital city, Ohio State’s Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and vibrant metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. Beyond its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Wooster Campus, which houses Ohio State ATI.

 

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.  

 

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. Additionally, there may be further requirements specific to the college or unit, which could include drug and health screenings, as well as faculty misconduct checks depending on the rank of the position.