Call for Applications: MPG-CAS Summer School “Astral Science, Cosmology, and Common Knowledge of Historical China and Beyond” (Beijing, China, August 25—September 3, 2025)

This Summer School is co-organized by the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG). Based on three interrelated research groups at the two institutions—the “Daily Practices of Cosmological Knowledge” led by Dr. Sun Mengmeng at UCAS, “Heavens in Your Hand: Artifacts and Astral Practices In Eurasia and North Africa” led by Prof. Stamatina Mastorakou and Dr. Jeffrey Kotyk at MPIWG, and “Common Knowledge and Its Sources in the Sinosphere” led by Dr. Shih-Pei Chen at MPIWG, we bring a representative group of specialists on history of astronomy, astrology, cosmology, common knowledge, and digital humanities together to give introductory courses and research lectures at the School of Humanities, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, China over 10 days.

This course centers on the history of astral knowledge in ancient China and in cross-cultural contexts, extending to broader cosmological traditions and the study of everyday practical knowledge influenced by such traditions. It will also include training in digital humanities and visual culture analysis. We welcome applications from graduate students engaged in the following research areas: history of astronomical and astrological knowledge and practices; the formation and evolution of common knowledge within the Sinographic cultural sphere; and the interdependence and interplays of cosmology, common knowledge, and technologies.

Deadline June 6, 2025.

Details, including the application form, can be found in the PDF download below.