Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies
Welcome to the website of the Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS) at Aberystwyth and Bangor Universities. IMEMS is focused on the investigation into the period 500-1800 and on changing the ways in which research in the arts and humanities is carried out. There will always be a role for individual specialists working on their own, but it is clear that much of the most exciting examination of history, literature, music, theology and Celtic studies is being undertaken by teams, which draw on expertise from different disciplines and institutions. IMEMS is actively promoting this way of working by building on the excellent research base in Aberystwyth and Bangor to create world-class multidisciplinary teams that are able to ask and answer challenging research questions.
From its home in Wales, IMEMS reaches out to scholars across the world, and is using state-of-the-art technology to support new ways of collaborating. However, IMEMS recognises the need for researchers to meet face-to-face and has a programmes of conferences, workshops and colloquia, which are attended by scholars from around the world. IMEMS is, of course, an academic community and as such disseminates its research findings through academic publications. However, the institute will reach wider audiences through its website and its programme of exhibitions, performances and public lectures.
IMEMS provides a lively research environment for Postgraduate Students, whether at Masters or PhD level. With the regular programmes of research seminars, student led workshops and postgraduate training sessions, IMEMS offers a supportive and stimulating context for postgraduate work in medieval and early modern studies. Potential postgraduate researchers should consult our project pages and the list of IMEMS members with their research specialities, and feel free to contact the appropriate people with whom to discuss research ideas and proposals. For a list of taught MA courses click here.
IMEMS has established research teams to address important questions in four areas and further information about each of these strands can be found by clicking on the links below.
- Women and the Sacred
- Cultures of the Written Artefact
- Writing Wales
- Cultures of War and Conflict Resolution
Although established before IMEMS, the following research centres are now important components of its research programme. Further information about these centres can be found by clicking on the following links:
I hope you will enjoy exploring the research activities within IMEMS, and that you will want to participate in its meetings, discussions and investigations.
The activities of the Institute are constantly evolving and expanding:
Recent new developments include the project on 'Seals in Medieval Wales 1200-1550' funded by the Arts and Humanitites Research Council, the Mostyn Project in close co-operation with the Mostyn Estate, and the Bangor Pontifical Digitisation Project in partnership with the Cathedral and Diocese of Bangor. To find out more about these projects and other current or forthcoming activities, please refer to the Current Projects and News and Events pages of this website.
The Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS) is one of the four Centres of the Aberystwyth University and Bangor University Research & Enterprise Partnership. Find out more about the Research Enterprise Partnership...