Humanities

ESF mourns loss of colleague

The ESF is mourning the death of Irma Vogel, Senior Administrator in the Humanities and Social Sciences Unit, who passed away in the early hours of 10 December. Irma lost the battle against cancer, which she had been fighting since early 2011. Her courage and strength during this difficult time have been an inspiration to all those around her, as was her ability to remain positive throughout.

Irma started working at the ESF in 2006 and closely worked with the ESF Standing Committee for the Humanities, where she was much appreciated for her professionalism, dedication and her thoughtfulness which made her work much more than ‘just’ a job. At the same time Irma invested her energy in the construction of an eco-friendly building with a group of people sharing the same environmental beliefs, which became her home in 2010. Irma will be missed, professionally but, especially, personally.

ESF staff are extremely sad but will keep wonderful memories of her, of her kindness, her energy, her optimism and her remarkable spirit. Our thoughts are with her loved ones, particularly her family, her three sons and partner during this difficult time.


Humanities research explores the origins and products of the human capacity for creativity and communication.  The Standing Committee for the Humanities (SCH) encourages the exchange between different currents and traditions of Humanities research in Europe, which have contributed to its many linguistically and culturally distinct identities. SCH seeks to better interconnect these rich diversities by developing cross-national research infrastructures for the Humanities.

SCH supports “bottom-up”, basic research in mono- and multidisciplinary frameworks, and aspires at refining methodologies and practices for the integration of humanities research into foresight activities, which will lead towards the production of new knowledge and improved understanding.
Humanities research investigates transcultural and supranational challenges on a global scale, thus lending meaning to the complexity of modern societies, for example through comparative studies of science and societal values, religion and migration.

SCH strives towards research that can transcend dichotomies between the natural and human sciences. Current topics of research include studies of consciousness, human dignity, and culture and sustainability. Humanities research addresses complex fields such as health and disease, cognitive science, globalisation and integration, and the impact of technological innovation on individuals and societies in past and present.