IWM - Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen

12/10/2026

Applications for our ERC Mentoring Initiative are open until this Friday, 16 October.

This mentoring initiative is addressed in particular to researchers in the areas of history, anthropology, political science, sociology, science and technology studies, as well as cultural and literary studies, aiming to submit in 2028 – 2029.

Learn more about the initiative and how to apply:
https://www.iwm.at/calls/erc-mentoring-initiative

06/10/2026

Recordings from the 2026 Vienna Humanities Festival are now available on our YouTube channel.

Revisit five days of conversations and debates on this year’s theme, “Agency / Tu was”, featuring historians, philosophers, political theorists, sociologists, economists, biologists, and writers.

Watch the full playlist here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCiLOrBDflAY&si=UTZY-1-kSk9OdATD

05/10/2026

With the passing of Boris Marte, the IWM mourns the loss of a longtime partner, a source of inspiration, and, above all, a dear friend. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.

Boris Marte, 1964-2026

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Boris Marte, who has left us far too soon.

He helped to establish ERSTE Foundation as well as so many initiatives that have shaped civil society in Austria and Central and Eastern Europe. For over 10 years, he served as ERSTE Foundation’s CEO, but in this as well as all his other roles he was dedicated to something much greater: a strong civil society and a free and united Europe.

The impulses Boris has given us are countless, the networks he has built are made to endure and the impact he has left is indelible. He was an inspiration to everyone who worked with him, he believed in big ideas, but believed even more in people: He demonstrated time and again that with the right crowd at the right time, in the right place, that change IS possible.

We have lost a visionary, a colleague and a friend. We have lost a fighter and a champion of the greater good. Our thoughts are with his family, and everyone close to him. Together, we will honour his memory.

In Memory of Boris by Andreas Treichl: https://www.erstestiftung.org/en/in-memory-of-boris/

For those wishing to pay their respects, a book of condolences will be available at the ERSTE Foundation (Am Belvedere 1, 1100 Vienna) from Wednesday, 7 October. The book of condolences will be accessible Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 17:00 and on Friday until 14:00.

02/10/2026

Welcome to the IWM!

This October, we are delighted to welcome 14 new fellows to the Institute.

Coming from different academic and professional backgrounds, they will spend the coming weeks and months at the IWM working on their projects and contributing to the intellectual life of the Institute.

Meet our new fellows and discover their research projects:
https://www.iwm.at/news/new-fellows-joining-the-iwm-in-october

01/10/2026

This October, anthropologist, sociologist, and physician Didier Fassin will deliver the 2026 IWM Lectures in Human Sciences.

The three-part series begins on 13 October with “Language. How to Make War With Words.” In his first lecture, moderated by IWM Rector Michael David-Fox, Fassin will propose a reflection on the way events and situations have been characterized and naturalized or, conversely, obscured or censored. The point is less about deciding where the truth is than about understanding the stakes in truth-making.

Register here:
https://www.iwm.at/event/the-time-has-come-autopsy-of-an-outrage-part-i-language-how-to-make-war-with-words

28/09/2026

The Vienna Humanities Festival 2026 has come to an end!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us over the past five days, to all our speakers and moderators, and to our partners who helped make this year’s festival possible.

Missed a conversation or would like to revisit one? Recordings will soon be available on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/

© Klaus Ranger & Wienbibliothek im Rathaus / Paul Pibernig

24/09/2026

On 4 September 2026, Michael David-Fox delivered his inaugural address as rector of the Institute for Human Sciences.

In a wide-ranging speech, David-Fox reflected on what he calls the “new 21st-century crisis of liberalism” and argued that the humanities and social sciences have a vital role to play in confronting the challenges of war, authoritarianism, climate change, and artificial intelligence.

Read the full text of the speech on our website:
https://www.iwm.at/news/michael-david-fox-the-crisis-of-the-human-sciences-and-lessons-of-the-past

Photo Credit: Klaus Ranger

24/09/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the opening event of this year’s Vienna Humanities Festival!

The festival continues tonight at 8.30 pm at Das MuTh with acclaimed essayist and author Pankaj Mishra, in conversation with German-Austrian novelist Daniel Kehlmann.

Registration is still possible:
https://lnkd.in/dqdsKGy5

23/09/2026

Important Announcement: Change of venue & time for the event featuring none other than Pankaj Mishra and Daniel Kehlmann. The good news is that registration is now open again. Come and join us! www.humanitiesfestival.at/mishra

Drawing on his extensive work on Western imperialism and the Global South, acclaimed essayist and author PANKAJ MISHRA will unpack the complex narratives, historical blind spots, and moral urgencies surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Centered on his recently published book, The World After ...