Graduate student workshop

Culture, Borders, and Gender: Research Trajectories, Emerging Themes, and Interdisciplinary Dialogues in the Contemporary World      

February 27-28, 2026
University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece

CALL FOR PAPERS

The Culture–Borders–Gender Laboratory invites PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers to participate in the 7th International PhD Seminar, to be held in a hybrid format on 27–28 February 2026 at the University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, with the option to attend in person or online.

The seminar aims to provide an open, supportive space for presenting work-in-progress research, exchanging constructive feedback, and strengthening academic dialogue among early-career researchers from Greece and abroad. With a strong emphasis on critical interdisciplinarity, the seminar encourages approaches that connect social anthropology with cultural studies, border studies, and gender studies, and with contemporary methodological and digital practices.

We welcome both theoretical contributions and ethnographic case studies that illuminate the complexity of the contemporary world, forms of inequality, power relations, and processes of social and cultural transformation. A key requirement for participation is that presentations must be based on ongoing doctoral research (work in progress) that has not yet been completed or formally approved and has not been published as a standalone academic work.

The seminar’s thematic areas highlight the dynamic nature of interdisciplinary research and its importance for interpreting the complexity of the contemporary world. Indicative topics include:

• Cultural practices, rituals, symbols, institutions, and discourses
• Borders, border regimes, and cross-border mobility
• Experiences of minorities, migrants, and refugees
• Gender, gender relations, and the body
• Crisis/crises: humanitarian, environmental, economic, and others
• Literature, arts, language, and translation
• Material culture, space, and monuments
• Digital technologies and audiovisual culture

What we expect from the presentations

The seminar is conceived as a space for dialogue, reflection, and collective learning, where participants are encouraged to share their research as it unfolds. Presentations should be based on ongoing doctoral research (work in progress) and may focus on different stages or aspects of the research process, including:

• the formulation of research questions and initial theoretical orientations
• methodological choices, uncertainties, and fieldwork dilemmas
• early insights, emerging analytical paths, or tentative interpretations
• challenges, difficulties, or open questions that invite discussion and feedback

Public Event with Invited Speakers

Minorities, Borders, and Memory in the Balkans:
Lives at the Margins in the Balkans

Friday 27 and Saturday, 28 February
University of Macedonia & online streaming via Zoom

The event is organised as a dialogue around the anthropological study of minorities, borders, and memory in the Balkans, drawing on both contemporary ethnographic research and classic works of Balkan ethnology. It brings together two interventions that, from different ethnographic and theoretical starting points, examine issues of violence, survival, and mobility, as well as the experiences and practices of local communities amid historical and geopolitical transformations.

Friday, February 27
University of Macedonia & online streaming via Zoom

“To leave or to stay? The dilemma of the Greeks of Constantinople after the events of September 1955”
Dr. Anna Theodorides
L’école des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Paris, France 

Saturday, February 28
University of Macedonia & online streaming via Zoom

“Layers of knowledge: A century of ethnological and anthropological research in the Prespa Region”
Prof. Ljupčo S. Risteski
Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University Skopje, North Macedonia

“Identity of the residents of East Sarajevo”
Dr. Bogdan Dražeta
Assistant Professor and Senior Research Assistant, Department of Ethnology and Anthropology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract submission guidelines

Interested applicants are invited to submit the following materials:

1. Presentation abstract (up to 350 words)
   The abstract should outline the doctoral research topic, the current project stage, and the key questions, issues, or challenges the applicant intends to discuss during the seminar.
2. Short academic biography (up to 200 words), including:
   1. the topic, research focus, and title of the doctoral dissertation
   1. a brief description of the current stage of the research
   1. the institution and doctoral programme
   1. contact details (email address and telephone number)
3. Presentation duration: up to 15 minutes
4. Presentation languages: Greek or English
5. Submission deadline: 23 January 2026
6. Submission of abstracts:
   Please send all materials to cbg-lab@uom.edu.gr
7. Certificate of participation:
   A certificate of participation will be provided to all participants.
8. Further Information:
   Anna Moumtzoglou – anna@uom.edu.gr

Applicants will be informed of the acceptance of their proposal no later than Wednesday, January 28.

Publication opportunities

Selected papers, following further revision and in accordance with established academic standards, may be considered for publication in special sections of open-access academic journals supported by the Culture–Borders–Gender Laboratory (cbg-lab.uom.gr):

• Culture–Borders–Gender / Studies
  https://tinyurl.com/msrbkxw2
• EIRINI
  https://tinyurl.com/5n8z8s52

Scientific Committee

• Fotini Tsibiridou (Director of the Laboratory), Professor,
  Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies
• Ioannis Manos, Professor,
  Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies
• Eleni Sideri, Assistant Professor,
  Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies

Organising Committee

• Fotini Tsibiridou (Director of the LAB)
• Ioannis Manos
• Eleni Sideri
• Anna Moumtzoglou, Special Technical Laboratory Staff (ETEP),
  Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies

Seminar Platform: Zoom

Zoom Link:
https://zoom.us/j/8364531775?pwd=OVg3YVZlbmVCYWs3S0JYcEFGYlV1QT09

Meeting ID: 836 453 1775
Passcode: KB2JKa

Culture, Borders, and Gender: 
Interdisciplinary dialogues and pathways in a complex world

Hybrid format: 
Conference Hall, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece 
&
ZOOM https://zoom.us/j/8364531775?pwd=OVg3YVZlbmVCYWs3S0JYcEFGYlV1QT09
Meeting ID: 836 453 1775     Passcode: KB2JKa

Culture, Borders, and Gender:
Interdisciplinary Dialogues and Pathways in a Complex World

 February 21-22, 2025
University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece

CALL FOR PAPERS

The Culture-Borders-Gender/LAB invites PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers to the 6th International PhD Seminar, a hybrid event on February 21–22, 2025, at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, Greece. The seminar welcomes in-person and online presentations and participants, providing a forum for junior researchers to demonstrate their work in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment.

It combines theoretical and methodological perspectives from social anthropology, cultural studies, border and gender studies, and digital technologies. It encourages participation in a broad academic dialogue, discussing pressing contemporary societal challengesand promoting the convergence of diverse scientific approaches.

We welcome submissions of case studies that explore, but are not limited to, the following themes and their intersections, offering fresh perspectives on the complexities of our contemporary world:

• Cultural practices, rituals, symbols, institutions, and discourses
• Border areas, identities, diversity, and cross-border mobility
• Experiences of minority groups, immigration, and refugees
• Gender dynamics, relations, and the concept of embodiment
• Crises: Humanitarian, environmental, economic, and more
• Studies in literature, art, language, and translation
• Material culture, space, and monuments
• Digitaltechnologies and audiovisualculture

Special Event

“Methodological Challenges in Social Science Research:
Approaches, Reflections, and Contemporary Trends”

Friday, February 21, 2025
University of Macedonia and Online (via Zoom)

Invited Speakers

“Ethics Politics in Anthropology: Critical Genealogies of Ethical Codes”
Dimitra Gefou-Madianou
Professor Emerita of Social Anthropology, Panteion University

“Presentation of the Edited Volume: Experimental Ethnography – A Guide to Analysis”
Eleftheria Deltsou
Editor of the Greek Publication
Associate Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Thessaly

“Contemporary Approaches to Research Ethics in Social Science Research: The CHANGER Program (Challenges and Innovative Changes in Research Ethics Reviews)”
Ioannis Manos
Associate Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Macedonia

Abstract Submission

• Abstracts should be no more than 250 words.
• Please provide a short bio detailing your academic qualifications and research interests, along with your contact details
• Submission Deadline: January 10, 2025
• Submission email address: cbg-lab@uom.edu.gr
• For further inquiries, contact Mrs Anna Moumtzoglou: anna@uom.edu.gr

Conference format, location, and other significant information

• The seminar will be held in a hybrid formaton the premises of the University of Macedonia,with onsiteand online participation via Zoom.

Πλατφόρμα Σεμιναρίων: ZOOM Link:
https://zoom.us/j/8364531775?pwd=OVg3YVZlbmVCYWs3S0JYcEFGYlV1QT09
Meeting ID: 836 453 1775     Passcode: KB2JKa

• Paper presentation: It should not exceed 15’
• Working languages: Greek, English
• A Certificate of Attendance will be issued to all participants of the seminar

Publication Prospects:

Selected papers will be considered for publication in special sections of the Culture – Borders – Gender / LΑBonline, open-access access, and peer-reviewed academic journals:

• Culture-Borders-Gender/Studies (https://tinyurl.com/msrbkxw2)
• EIRINI (https://tinyurl.com/5n8z8s52).

Scientific Committee

• FotiniTsibiridou (Director), Professor, Department of Balkan, Slavic, and Oriental Studies
• Ioannis Manos, Associate Professor, Department of Balkan, Slavic, and Oriental Studies
• EleniSideri, Assistant Professor, Department of Balkan, Slavic, and Oriental Studies
• AlekaIoannidou, Professor, Department of Balkan, Slavic, and Oriental Studies
• Dr. Christina Grammatikopoulou, Fellow, Culture – Borders – Gender /LΑB

Organizing Committee

• FotiniTsibiridou
• IoannisManos
• EleniSideri
• ChristinaGrammatikopoulou
• Anna Moumtzoglou, Special Technical Lab Personnel, Department of Balkan, Slavic, and Oriental Studies

17-18 February 2023

Organization: Culture-Borders-Gender/LAB, Department of BSAS, PAMAK
Conference Hall PAMAK – 1st floor (hybrids and live)

Methodology seminar
Public Anthropology and Cultural Studies: Issues in Methodology, Fieldwork and Archival Research

Seminar Platform: ZOOM
Link:  https://zoom.us/j/8364531775?pwd=OVg3YVZlbmVCYWs3S0JYcEFGYlV1QT09    Meeting ID: 836 453 1775     Passcode: KB2JKa

Participants:
–Pantelis Probonas, Journalist and PhD candidate in Social Anthropology at the Department of History, Archeology and Social Anthropology of the University of Thessaly.
–Elena Mamoulaki, Dr. of Social and Cultural Anthropology (Universidad de Barcelona) and Architect Engineer (AUTH, MSc NTUA).
–Fotini Tsibiridou, Professor of Social Anthropology and its President Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies at the University of Macedonia, Director of the Culture-Borders-Gender/LAB.

25-26 February 2022

Organisation: Culture-Borders-Gender/Lab, Department of Balkan, Slavic, Oriental Studies, PAMAK

“Culture, Borders, Genders: Audiovisual Representations and Interpretive Attempts in the Digital Age”

Seminar Platform: ZOOM
Link:  https://zoom.us/j/8364531775?pwd=OVg3YVZlbmVCYWs3S0JYcEFGYlV1QT09    Meeting ID: 836 453 1775     Passcode: KB2JKa

Invited speakers:
–Petros Petridis, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Anthropology, Panteion University
–Iakovos Panagopoulos. Academic Scholar Department of Audio and Visual Arts, Ionian University / Postdoctoral Researcher Panteion University of Political and Social Sciences

“Culture, Borders, Genders: Audiovisual Representations and Interpretive Attempts in the Digital Age”

25-26 February 2022
Organisation: Culture-Borders-Gender/LAB, Department of BSAS, PAMAK

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE AND PRESENT AN ANNOUNCEMENT

The Culture- Borders-Gender/LAB organizes the 3rd Seminar for PhD candidates, in order to highlight the work carried out by young researchers.
The invitation to participate and present announcements is addressed to young researchers in the social sciences and humanities and concerns case studies that focus indicatively, and not exclusively, on the following thematic fields but also on their possible combinations:
-Cultural practices, rituals, symbols, institutions, discourses
-Borders and border regions, identities and othernesses, cross-border mobility
-Minority, immigrant and refugee experiences
-Gender relations,body
-Literature, arts, language and translation
-Material culture, space, architecture, monuments
-Digital technologies, digital and audiovisual culture

About the program
-This year’s 3rd Seminar will be held online with the possibility of connecting and watching by anyone interested.
-It will include an online workshop on the topic ”        Anthropological Research, and Digital Media: Creating Ethnographic Narratives with New Technologies”

Invited speakers:
–Petros Petridis, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Anthropology, Panteion University
–Iakovos Panagopoulos. Academic Scholar Department of Audio and Visual Arts, Ionian University / Postdoctoral Researcher Panteion University of Political and Social Sciences

-New doctoral and postdoctoral researchers are invited to present specific chapters or topics from their research
-A certificate of attendance will be granted to each interested party.
– Details of the program, participants and other organizational information will be announced in due course.
-Working languages ​​will be Greek and English.

Send summaries
Deadline: February 11, 2021

Contact email: anna@uom.edu.gr, Information: Anna Moumtzoglou

-Summary of 250 words (in Greek or English) with the title of the announcement
-5-8 keywords relevant to the case study
-Contact information: full name, scientific qualification, contact email address

“Culture, borders, gender: Interpretive understanding, creative practices and historical journeys in the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East “

26-28 February 2021

Organization: Laboratory for the Study of Culture, Borders, and Gender, Department of Balkan Slavic and Oriental Studies, University of Macedonia
On the occasion of the completion of 5 years since the establishment of Culture – Borders – Gender / LΑB

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION AND PRESENTATION OF ANNOUNCEMENT

The combination of theoretical, epistemological, and methodological traditions and approaches between different scientific fields, aiming at the cultivation of Area Studies, is the basis on which the Laboratory for the Study of Culture, Borders, and Gender of the Department of Department of Balkan Slavic and Oriental Studies operates. According to the premises of its founding act and its scientific goals, the Laboratory studies complex processes of culture and gender experiences, as well as processes of creating boundaries and boundaries, similarities and differences, on a cultural and symbolic level.

At the core of the Laboratory’s approach is the study of cultures as a historical, social, and interpretive process in the SE and AN. Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East. Populations living in border areas between nation-states, and/or moving through them, and the ways in which gender is constructed and gender experience are also examined comparatively.

On the occasion of the five years since its establishment, and in the context of the fulfillment of the above objectives, the Culture – Borders – Gender / LΑB  organizes the 2nd Seminar for Ph.D. candidates, in order to highlight the work done by early-stage researchers.

The call for participation in the seminar is addressed to early-stage researchers in the social sciences and humanities and concerns case studies that focus indicatively, and not exclusively, on the following thematic areas but also on their possible combinations:

• Cultural practices, rituals, symbols, institutions, reasons
• Borders and border areas, identities and diversity, cross-border mobility
• Minority, immigration, and refugee experiences
• Gender, gender relations, body
• Literature, arts, language and translation
• Material culture, space, architecture, monuments
• Digital technologies, digital and audiovisual culture

About the program

• This year’s 2nd Seminar will be held online with the possibility of connection and attendance by any interested party (after registration).
• It will include panels with guest speakers / three and sessions with researchers’ announcements.
• A certificate of attendance will be issued.
• Details of the program, the participants, and other organizational information will be announced in due course.
• Working languages ​​will be Greek and English.

Send abstracts for an announcement

Deadline: January 20, 2021

Contact email: anna@uom.edu.gr , Information: Anna Moumtzoglou

• Summary of 250 words (in Greek or English) with the title of the announcement
• 5-8 keywords relevant to the case study
• Contact details: name, scientific status, email address

INVITATION TO SUBMIT AN ARTICLE FOR PUBLICATION

ELECTRONIC MINUTES OF THE MEETING (e-book)

The Culture – Borders – Gender / LΑB  and the organizing committee will edit the publication of the electronic minutes of the meeting, which will include the elaborated texts of the presentation. Writing language can be Greek or English.

Deadline  for the Submission  of  paper: May 15, 2021