News about the research areas

The C²DH’s research activities are based around four thematic research areas: contemporary history of Luxembourg, contemporary history of Europe, public history and digital historiography. The Centre’s research projects systematically incorporate digital methods and tools. This innovative approach encourages researchers to explore the multiple avenues that have been opened up by the advent of the digital age, ranging from new methods for the exploration of historical sources and for data storage, organisation, analysis and visualisation to transmedia storytelling and public outreach.

Research area "Contemporary history of Luxembourg"

The research unit "Contemporary History of Luxembourg" focuses on the political, economic, cultural and social transnational history of Luxembourg in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries and aims to produce new knowledge on the contemporary history of Luxembourg by studying the phenomena and processes that have profoundly marked the region and whose comparative value goes beyond the national perspective. These include the World Wars and their legacies, the transition from an economy based on the steel industry to a mixed economy of production and services with a dominant financial and audiovisual sector as well as the emergence of the migratory space and the welfare state.

Head of the research area: Denis Scuto

Research area "Public history"

The C²DH Public History Department aims to take history beyond the academic walls of the University. Initially defined as “history outside the classroom”, public history targets non-academic audiences through a multitude of media (websites, social media, exhibitions, tours, documentary films, comics, etc.) and sites (museums, libraries, streets and online). Public history develops participatory practices with the aim of engaging with a variety of partners and fostering collaboration between universities, cultural institutions, decision-makers and various public groups.

Head of the research area: Stefan Krebs

Research area "Contemporary European history"

Les défis actuels auxquels est confronté l’Europe, qu’ils soient politiques (Brexit, montée des nationalismes), sociaux (mouvements migratoires, respect des droits humains), sanitaires (crise de la COVID-19), invitent à saisir l’histoire européenne dans sa complexité, ses liens comme ses fractures et paradoxes. Revisitant son institutionnalisation, ses mémoires, ses contestations, ses médias comme ses experts, la research unit "Contemporary European history" envisage l’Europe en termes de réseaux en une approche appuyée sur l’histoire numérique.

Head of the research area: Valérie Schafer

Research area "Digital History"

The Digital History research unit explores historical research’s digital turn in a critical, experimental, and interdisciplinary way. Axis researchers and technicians collaborate to produce new historical tools and practices. Current flagship projects include: impresso, an app for the advanced exploration of 200 years of historical newspapers based on text mining; Tropy, commercial-grade software for collection and analysis of research images; and DHARPA, an experimental platform for historical data creation and traceability.

Head of the research area: Sean Takats