What can be discovered between spaces?

Liminal spaces, margins, and thresholds offer us exciting opportunities to explore the past and our own perceptions. This conference aims to open discussion on under-represented or under-discussed topics to further analyse what we accept as “truth”. We will focus on the northern parts of the world specifically, as the northern regions were viewed as remote and uninhabitable. Medieval and Early Modern sources suggest that the further north you go, the more monstrous the world becomes. Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Marginal and/or liminal spaces and places
• Dis/ability and other marginalised embodied experiences
• Marginalised areas of scholarship
• Manuscript marginalia
• Liminality in Medievalism and Early Modern reception

We especially welcome abstracts for papers on Aberdeen and the northern Scotland region more widely, as we will hold a session dedicated to the underrepresented history of Aberdeen and the northeast of Scotland.

The dates of this conference will be 31st May - 1st June 2025. We will be hosting two guest speakers, one presenting each day of the conference. The language of the conference will be in English and the entire event will be hybrid, allowing access to all who wish to participate, regardless of distance. The time zone will be based on GST.

If you wish to present a paper please email an abstract of 250 words alongside a short personal biography that includes pronouns, name, area of study and institutional affiliation. Please submit your abstracts by 31st December 2024 to aberdeenmargin@gmail.com. We welcome all disciplines and encourage both students and early career academics to submit their abstracts. Papers should not exceed 20 minutes and will be followed by 10 minutes of discussion and the opportunity for questions.

This conference is kindly funded by the Development Trust Student Experience Fund and hosted by the University of Aberdeen. We are grateful for both generous contributors and their collaborations with us.