Living, learning and imagining otherwise at the IAS

My fellowship fully embodied that spirit. From my first week in Durham, I encountered an environment where ideas surfaced quickly and where interdisciplinarity was woven through every conversation.

The Surfacing Theses project, which brought me to Durham, created a genuinely interdisciplinary space. Collaborating with Professor Catherine Montgomery, Dr Craig Stewart and Professor Catherine Manathunga enabled us to integrate big data approaches, life history perspectives and conceptual analyses, opening up new methodological and intellectual avenues. Each conversation revealed possibilities for long-term collaboration, with the potential to sustain inquiry for a decade! We are already outlining potential papers and exploring future research bids informed by these discussions.

In my IAS seminar, I focused on Indigenous universities in Latin America, as well as the notions of epistemic justice and invisibilisation. I wanted to open a discussion about other ways of imagining and practising the university. Taken together with Beth Middleton’s compelling presentation on hydroelectric dams and Catherine Manathunga’s reflections on decolonising the university, these seminars vividly demonstrated that decolonisation is an ongoing, real struggle, one that is often romanticised in ways that obscure its concrete challenges.

Engaging with University College (‘Castle’) added another deeply meaningful dimension to my fellowship. Interacting with Castle team as well as spending time with undergraduate and postgraduate students, provided me with an insight into the Castle's vibrant academic community, which is firmly rooted in the everyday lives of its students and characterised by open dialogue and a shared commitment to learning, diversity, and inclusion. I also had the privilege of spending considerable time in the Castle itself, observing students’ routines, attending concerts, formals and chapel services and experiencing what it means to live and work in a medieval building rich in history and culture. These moments broadened my understanding of what a collaborative, community-rooted university environment can offer.

Finally, the hospitality I experienced at the IAS and throughout Durham made my time truly memorable. Lunches, dinners, tours and informal gatherings created an atmosphere of warmth, reflection and connection, fostering new networks and friendships.

My IAS fellowship has allowed me to think differently, connect deeply and broaden the horizons of my work. I leave inspired, grateful and excited for the collaborations and ideas that have emerged during my time in Durham.

Professor Carolina Guzman Valenzuela