Think Tank „Scriptio Continua – Antike und Gegenwart“

The study of antiquity and classical languages and texts can be instructive for (almost) everything in modern life as well. The spectrum ranges from war and peace, love and hate, politics and understanding democracy, ethics and aesthetics to communication and media or art and culture. The University of Potsdam wants to set a focus and support students who are enthusiastic about antiquity in the special format of the think tank.
For the first time in the winter semester 2021/22, the University of Potsdam will be endowing university scholarships for the think tank "Scriptio Continua - Antiquity and Present". At least ten students work in the think tank on interdisciplinary projects for one year and gain insights into research in ancient studies. The think tank closely links the research in ancient languages of the Department of Classics with the research and teaching foci of the History of Antiquity. Their common concern is to contribute to a better understanding of antiquity.

How does the think tank work?

In interdisciplinary teams, the scholarship holders develop independent research projects and implement them together - from first ideas to the conceptualisation, planning and implementation of their research to the public presentation of the results. The work of the think tank is accompanied and supported throughout by researchers from the Institute of History (Chairs of Ancient History and Classical Philology). In addition to the integration of the think tank into the research at the University of Potsdam, day trips to other research institutions and museums (e.g. Altes Museum, Bode Museum and Pergamon Museum in Berlin, Archäologisches Landesmuseum in Brandenburg an der Havel, Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities) as well as a one-week research excursion abroad (e.g. to Italy) are planned.

What are the benefits of working in the think tank?

In addition to a Potsdam University scholarship of 300€ per month for one year, students benefit from working in the think tank not only because they broaden their understanding of language, history and culture, but also with regard to their professional practice. The individual research-based engagement with the reception of antiquity provides insight into the structures and dynamics of the culture of history and memory and thus also helps them to prepare for jobs in the field of public history, in museums or in other forms of historical mediation. Furthermore, the scholarship holders of the think tank will receive funding for the research excursion in addition to their monthly scholarship. The think tank scholarship holders can have their successful participation recognised as an internship in their studies and will also receive a special certificate of participation.

How can I become a scholarship holder of the think tank?

The call for applications is aimed in particular at students of all degree programmes in History and Classics (B. A. History; History, Politics and Society; Greek Studies; Latin Studies; B. Ed. History; Latin; M. A. History; Cultural Encounter Spaces of the Early Modern Period; War and Conflict Studies; Contemporary History; M. Ed. History; Latin); students from other humanities and cultural studies programmes at Bachelor's and Master's level (e.g. Jewish Studies, Cultural Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies) are also invited to apply, provided that they can demonstrate an interest in the issues and focal points of Classical Studies, both thematically and methodologically.
Interested students apply via the general application form of the University of Potsdam Scholarship. For the application to a think tank, an additional essay is required, which is uploaded in the application form. When applying for a think tank, students also apply for the general university scholarship at the same time. Two different applications are therefore not necessary. In addition to the general selection criteria of the Potsdam University Scholarship, active participation is expected for the scholarship in the think tank.