The STAR (Scotland's Transatlantic Relations) Project
Why Transatlantic Studies today?
The relatively new field of Transatlantic Studies seeks to move away from narrowly conceived nationalist perspectives towards a recognition of the significance of migration and the exchange of people and ideas across national borders, and across the Atlantic.
Within this rapidly developing field, the relationship between Scotland and the Americas deserves special attention. Scotland's transatlantic relations are extensive and of long standing: intellectual, commercial, educational, cultural, and migrational connections reach back to the early years of European settlement and extend from the Caribbean through the Americas, to Canada.
Why Edinburgh?
Edinburgh's long-standing historical connection with the Americas as well as its wealth of modern-day resources make it the natural base for such a research venture. STAR is based at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, University of Edinburgh. It has partnered with both the National Library of Scotland and the Museum of Scotland to make their resources available to STAR members, across the Scottish universities and in the wider community.
About the STAR Project:
The STAR (Scotland's Transatlantic Relations) Project has been established thanks to a three-year grant by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, plus a one year's continuation funding. Convened by Professor Susan Manning, Grierson Professor of English Literature and director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in th Humanities (University of Edinburgh), STAR's mission is to provide a focus for international circumatlantic research with a Scottish dimension. Through a combination of seminars, conferences, publication ventures, and other collaborations, it fosters interchange and discussion; it also makes relevant information and resources available to a wider audience via this website.
Since its inception, the STAR group has expanded from a small body of interested scholars into a recognised international network. STAR members have initiated the new Literature and Transatlanticism, MSc at the University of Edinburgh, as well as the series Edinburgh Studies in Transatlantic Literature (Edinburgh University Press). Regular sessions of the STAR Seminar are continuing to provide a rich source of interdisciplinary exchange for colleagues from across the Scottish universities and beyond. Further, we are in the process of building up the STAR Archive's unique online collection of resources, including digitised texts and other contributed materials of transatlantic interest from our Members.
We are currently considering a number of possiblilities to ensure continued growth and expansion so that STAR will be able to maintain and enrich its current achievements. We are actively pursuing closer collaborations with our North American and European partners, particularly in the form of joint research projects and exchange programmes with scholars and institutions.
Comments or suggestions are most welcome; please contact Susan Manning (Susan.Manning@ed.ac.uk) or Aishih Wehbe-Herrera (starproject@ed.ac.uk).
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