Newsletter No. 5

Call for Papers 

Conference "Experimenting Philosophy of Religion: Altering Politics, Ecology and Aesthetics in Transition" (21-23 October 2026)

Actual problems and critical situations – such as ecological crisis and political disruption – have more and more shown the need for a thought that can be effective, but nonetheless not all-encompassing. This conference proposes "experimenting philosophy of religion" as field, method and a performative mode of exchange: a practice of inquiry that acknowledges precarity and embraces provisional possibilities of thinking. We treat "experiment" in its full sense: trial, risk, and iterative testing, where concepts are articulated, confronted, and, when necessary, allowed to fail. Experimentation is not external to philosophy of religion but constitutive of it, insofar as the field opens possibilities for creating what is other – new conceptual and practical configurations – while attending to how these emerge within existing disciplines. Find the whole call here.

The deadline for submission of proposals is 5 June 2026. 

29 May 2026, 9.45-11.30pm: VDTR Welcome Cafe for new doctoral students

Have you recently joined the VDTR? Are you about to embark on your doctoral studies? If so, join us for this VDTR onboarding event!

• 9.45-10: Get to know the doctoral school, its structure and opportunities
• 10-10.30: Overview over the most important steps of your PhD studies, helpful sources and support offer for the planning of your PhD
• 10.30-11.30h:Time for informal questions or the joint planning of support structures

No registration needed - just drop by in Office 060 (Schenkenstrasse 8-10, second floor)!

Writing Wednesdays - one date left!

Looking for a place to write your dissertation?
Do you want to be surrounded by others working on the same task? Whether you at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of your doctoral project – writing is one of the most challenging tasks. To make it more enjoyable, structured, and supportive, we would like to invite you to our Writing Wednesdays! 
Book your spot!

June 2026: PhD Completion Workshop Series

Finishing a dissertation is no small feat — and the final stretch is often harder than expected. If you're aiming to submit within the next six months but finding it difficult to get there, this workshop is for you.

Across four sessions in May and June, our trainer tackles the key issues that delay PhD completion.

03 June 2026, 2-4pm: PhD Completion Workshop Series II - Working on the Dissertation, not just in it

17 June 2026, 2-4pm: PhD Completions Workshop Series III - Revising Chapters Effectively

24 June 2026, 2-4pm: PhD Completions Workshop Series IV - Submission, Defence, and what comes after 

Participants have reported that the first session was excellent, and we warmly encourage you to make use of the few remaining spots for the upcoming training sessions.

Take a look at the comprehensive training offer on u:rise! 

Many training opportunities are available, including several training dates for the basic teaching qualification and various courses on the use of AI in research and teaching. Contact us if you need help finding the right course for you, we are happy to help!