The Institute of Historical Research seminars are a key part of the UK’s History infrastructure. The act of coming together in a spirit of generosity to discuss historical research represents so much that is good about the history community. We currently support 58 seminar series’ that meet regularly across the year to think about the past together. Our seminar convenors are drawn from diverse institutions, locations, and career stages, united by a commitment to cross-institutional intellectual collaboration and to partnerships that extend well beyond the university sector. The seminars are spaces to engage in respectful, inclusive, and equitable discussion and reflection. They are advertised broadly to draw together participants from a wide range of contexts, and they attract people of all career stages and backgrounds from across the UK and well beyond.
The seminar programme has always responded to emerging approaches, innovative topics and the growth of new fields. With this in mind, we are opening up applications to establishment three new seminar series’ to start in the 2025-2026 academic year.
New seminars are expected to:
- draw convenors from diverse locations and institutions; appoint a lead convenor; and let us know when convenors change;
- invite a diverse range of speakers from different career stages;
- provide their programme, and any subsequent changes to it, in a timely manner so that we can publicise it effectively;
- agree a protocol for the beginning of each series which establishes expectations about behaviour and seminar-specific norms for collegial engagement;
- promote a positive sense of community, creating a supportive space for academic freedom;
- proactively widen the accessibility of the seminars through the use of hybrid and/or online formats alongside in person meetings and, where appropriate - and with the permission of speakers - record and upload hybrid and online seminars to the IHR’s You Tube channel.
The IHR will provide online, hybrid, and in-person space, support for timetabling and registration, a small budget and the opportunity to apply to our IHRSeminars@ fund. Those seminars that meet in person are encouraged to use the IHR Common Room for pre- and post-seminar hospitality and to make use of the IHR Community Café.