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DIAS announce Dublin Festival of History talk on the role of German-speaking refugees in shaping the Institute

Update (23.09.2021): You can watch Dr. Holfter’s talk on our YouTube channel here

(16.09.2021) As part of this year’s Dublin Festival of History line-up, the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) will host a talk on the role German-speaking refugees who came to Ireland to escape Hitler, and the academics among them, played in shaping the Institute.  

On Wednesday, 22nd September at 6pm, Professor Gisela Holfter, co-founder, and director of the German Irish Studies Centre at the University of Limerick, will present her talk “Safe Haven: DIAS and the WWII immigrants who helped shape it”. The talk will explore the backgrounds of the academics who fled to Ireland to escape Nazi Germany, how they came to Dublin and what did they contribute to DIAS.

Commenting in advance, CEO and Registrar of DIAS Dr. Eucharia Meehan, said: “The Dublin Festival of History is a fantastic occasion for the public to engage in historical issues. Each year, the festival generates a huge level of interest in history. As the world’s second, and Ireland’s only, Institute for Advanced Studies, we are always keen to participate in the festival.

“This year, we are delighted to welcome Professor Gisela Holfter to give a talk on the role German-speaking refugees who fled Hitler and Nazis played in shaping the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. The impact of German-speaking refugees on the Institute has been remarkable – with the notable Professor Erwin Schrödinger amongst them. I encourage the public to register to attend for what promises to be a fascinating talk.”

The Dublin Festival of History 2021, organised by Dublin City Libraries, has a programme of over 70 events, both online and in-person.

‘Safe Haven: DIAS and the WWII immigrants who helped shape it’ will be conducted via Zoom. To register to attend,visit: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/safe-haven-dias-and-the-wwii-immigrants-who-helped-shape-it-tickets-168267395309