Four new research networks launched with support of philanthropy

Thanks to support from a private donor and donations from the Annual Fund, The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH) has funded four new interdisciplinary research networks.

'We are delighted to support four new networks that capture the breadth, liveliness and diversity of research in Oxford,' says Professor Elleke Boehmer, Director of TORCH. 'Bringing together researchers from a wide range of subjects and career stages, these networks address contemporary concerns, longstanding questions, and pressing new global challenges.'

The centre's new #SocialHumanites network, for example, will contribute to establishing a more complete landscape around social media research at Oxford. As DPhil student Yin Yin Lu explains, it was launched to 'bring humanities scholars into the conversation - as social media data are created by individuals, it is crucial to maintain a humanistic perspective.'

These new networks build on the successful formula of research and cross-collaboration already established by TORCH. Over the course of just three years, 30 similar groups have been created, ranging in subject from celebrity culture, through to early modern Catholicism, war crime trial and investigation, and Nordic studies.

Dr David Bowe, a Junior Research Fellow in Medieval and Modern Languages, is involved with a new group seeking to explore the intersections between gender and issues of cultural authority. 'The network will bring together speakers from different disciplines and institutions,' he says. 'We are very excited about our rich, cross-disciplinary programme, and the collaborations we hope to develop over the coming year.'

There is no doubt that establishing these networks would prove difficult without the generous support of TORCH's donors. 'By providing small amounts of seed-funding to new research networks, TORCH has become an invaluable testing ground for innovative projects,' says Michael Hoffman who has supported the network scheme.

Launched in April, an exciting programme of speakers and topics is already springing up around the new networks. As Professor Boehmer enthuses: 'The networks' events are open to all and we encourage you to come along and find out more!'

TORCH's new research networks are:

• #SocialHumanities - contributing to establishing a more complete landscape around social media research at Oxford.
• Gender and Authority - exploring and questioning received notions of social and cultural authority, specifically as they intersect with issues of gender.
• The Oxford Psalms Network - examining the wider impact of the Psalms in the development of Judeo-Christian culture, language and identity.
• Rethinking the Contemporary: The World Since the Cold War – bringing together a number of different central themes in order to better understand the period.