International hybrid conference: “Lessons from the Past: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals”, 23–24 March 2026.

The Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology of the University of Liverpool, in partnership with the University’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Sustainability Research (ICSR) and the Victoria Gallery and Museum, will be hosting the international hybrid conference “Lessons from the Past: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals”, which will be held on the 23rd and 24th March 2026.
 
People who study the past have a unique and broad perspective on humanity. With the challenges of the modern world, this deep understanding has never been more important in shaping our attitudes and responses. The Department is keen to hear from a broad range of speakers and welcome submissions from Archaeologists, Evolutionary Anthropologists, Historians, Classicists, Egyptologists, and anyone else who studies humans in the past. The call for abstract and poster submissions is now open, and the deadline is Monday 27th October 2025. Submitted abstracts will be blind-reviewed by a panel of experts. Detailed submission guidelines can be found here https://lessonsfromthepast.info/paper-submission/.
 
Talks must result in a tangible recommendation to a specified body (e.g. a non-profit institution, local council, University, Government department, or even the United Nations). Presentations should explain how knowledge of the past supports the recommendation. Talks will be selected based on the feasibility of their recommendation and strength of linkage between the proposal made and the evidence used to support it. Poster submissions do not require a recommendation but should include relevant information linking knowledge of the past with a specific UN sustainability goal.
 
More information about the conference, including the keynote speaker, Prof. Robert Kelly (University of Wyoming), can be found on the conference website at https://lessonsfromthepast.info/.
 
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the conference organisers at contact[at]lessonsfromthepast.info.

Dr. Beatrice Pestarino | Leverhulme Early Career Fellow
University of Liverpool | Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, 
12-14 Abercromby Square, 
Liverpool L69 7WZ, UK

XVIIIth FIEC Congress / XVIIIe congrès de la FIEC

PRE-ANNOUNCEMENT

We are pleased to announce that the XVIIIth FIEC Congress will be held in Ljubljana (Slovenia) from Monday 3 to Friday 7 July 2028. Further details will follow in due course.

ANNONCE PRÉLIMINAIRE

Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer que le XVIIIe congrès de la FIEC se tiendra à Ljubljana (Slovénie) du lundi 3 au vendredi 7 juillet 2028. Davantage de détails suivront en temps opportun.   

Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies – Two scholarships for doctoral studies (October 2026 – September 2030)

The Graduate School Scholarship Program (GSSP) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is offering two (2) doctoral scholarships for aspiring PhD students within the framework of the "Ancient Languages and Texts" doctoral program of the BerGSAS, https://www.berliner-antike-kolleg.org/en/bergsas/programme/alt/index.html

More information about it and the application procedure can be found below or at https://www.berliner-antike-kolleg.org/en/bergsas/ausschreibungen/index.html#alt

Open rank professorship in Latin literature at the University of Bern in Switzerland.

The Institute of Classical Philology at the University of Bern invites applications for an open-rank full-time position as Professor for Latin beginning in February 2026 or the earliest convenient date (successor of Prof. Dr. Gerlinde Huber-Rebenich).

The Institute seeks applicants with proven international experience in research and teaching. The successful candidate covers the entire field of Latin philology, ideally with a research focus in classical Latin literature. In addition, familiarity with medieval or contemporary (or both) studies is desirable. Research collaboration within the Institute and the new Department of Classics is expected. Responsibilities include participation in the cantonal High School committee on Latin and maintaining relations with the regional Gymnasia that teach Latin.  

Depending on qualifications, the position will be filled at the level of assistant professor, associate professor or full professor. Requirements for an associate or full professor include a Habilitation (or equivalent). Requirements for an assistant professor with tenure track include a Habilitation (or equivalent) in progress. A candidate who cannot yet teach and advise in German, must acquire the necessary language competence in no more than two years after taking up the position.

In accordance with the diversity and equal opportunity goals of the University, the Institute is committed to increase the share of women in academic positions and therefore encourage women to apply. Applicants are also invited to submit plans for job-sharing and dual careers. The University encourages applications from people with disabilities, People of Color, and people who in the Swiss context belong to ethnic minorities.

Start Date: February 1st, 2026

Employer: University of Bern, Faculty of Humanities

 

Position: Full time

 

Location: Bern

 

Application deadline: June 30, 2025

 

Application procedure:

• Please fill in and submit the application form: https://www.philhist.unibe.ch/about_us/now_happening/ausschreibung_latinistik/index_eng.html

 

• Please send your application in a single PDF file to jenny.preiss[at]unibe.ch: Application should include a cover letter, CV, a list of publications, a list of courses taught, teaching evaluations, teaching and research statement, a list of grants and stipends, and academic committee experience.

 

If you have questions, please direct your enquiries to: jenny.preiss[at]unibe.ch

Petition against the reform of the secondary school curriculum in Geneva

A petition is currently circulating in Switzerland, to encourage the Department of Public Education (DIP) in the canton of Geneva to reconsider its plans for the upcoming reform of Swiss secondary school curricula. If the reform goes ahead as currently planned, it will have a profound impact on the humanities. For example, students will be required to choose between Latin and English, which will undoubtedly be to the detriment of Latin. Furthermore, other optional subjects, such as Ancient Greek, which are already marginalised, will be limited to two years of teaching for students who do choose to study them.

 

It is clear that this proposed reform poses a danger to our disciplines: fewer and fewer students will opt to study Greek or Latin, and those who do will likely not receive the preparation required to pursue their studies at university level.

 

More details on this reform and its consequences can be found here, and the petition itself here. As all petitions in the Canton of Geneva must be posted, it is necessary to print, sign and scan the document, then email it to valeria.lovato[at]unige.ch by June 2nd 2025.

Petition to preserve Greek teaching in Zurich high schools

In the city of Zurich, Switzerland, it has been decided that Greek will no longer be taught in high schools. The following petition is being circulated against this decision:

Since March 11, 2025 it has been known, that in the wake of the soon-to-be-implemented Swiss A-levels reform Greek shall no longer be taught as a specialisation subject at Zurich High Schools.

We, the undersigned, do not accept that and are strongly committed to preserving this indispensable educational treasure.

As everybody being on this list knows, Greek is more than just a language: it is the key to understanding our cultural identity, it is the language of science, philosophy and fundamental democratic values.

Giving up Greek would mean neglecting an important educational heritage. We do not want to lose this treasure!

Please support our initiative and sign the petition here.

Call for papers - Phasis

The peer-reviewed journal Phasis invites original articles in all fields of Greek and Roman studies (literature, history, languages, philosophy, religion, art, archaeology, reception, etc.). The journal publishes articles in English, French and German. Submissions should be accompanied by an abstract of 100-250 words in English. Submission guidelines are available at https://phasis.tsu.ge/index.php/PJ/about/submissions. The article and abstract should be sent to phasis@tsu.ge by 30 April 2025, with name, address and affiliation in the accompanying email.  Any queries can also be sent to the same address.