Relocating from Turkey to Germany, our fellow, Sema Semih, is reflecting on their journey that led them to Off University as well as their research on transfeminism.
“With the rising authoritarianism around the world, attacks on academic autonomy and freedom of expression are increasing. It is of course very valuable to be able to carry out this research in these difficult days when scientific studies are prevented or even banned, scientists are suspended from their duties and discredited. I am happy to have the opportunity to work with an institution like Off University, which creates alternative, creative and safe spaces for the continuity of knowledge production and intellectual activity in the face of oppression, violence and discrimination; opens spaces for independent thinking and academic solidarity for scientists; and strives to make knowledge accessible to everyone.”
Lubunya, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sema Semih joined Off University as a fellow of the Martin-Roth Initiative (MRI) in September 2024. They are conducting research on the memory of the transfeminist struggle in Turkey and are planning to carry out their project activities in collaboration with us. Recently, they reflected on their research journey in relation to their relocation experience on the Off University PubPub and would like to invite readers to engage with their article.
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The Martin-Roth Initiative (MRI), a joint project by ifa and the Goethe-Institut in reaction to the global decline in pre-political spaces, brings host institutions and threatened individuals together for a temporary relocation. Off University started exploring the intersection of arts and academia in 2019 with the Reflection Series. This new direction led us to host a fellow who is active in the arts and cultural sector in collaboration with Martin Roth Initiative. This collaboration allows us to further include at-risk artists and creative practitioners in our work.
