Project News

We are delighted to share that Viktoria Vorobeva, a researcher on the Traumatised Minds project, participated in the Marsilius Academy 2026, Feel the Heat: Science and Histories of FeverLink opens in a new window, held at Heidelberg University from 20 to 25 September 2026.

Bringing together scholars from the natural sciences and the humanities, the Academy explored the biological, cultural, and historical dimensions of fever. During the event, Viktoria introduced the wider aims and research themes of the Traumatised Minds project and presented her own work on the language of heat in Russian-language diaries.

Drawing on personal writings from different historical periods, she examined how individuals used metaphors and expressions associated with heat to describe emotional states, bodily sensations, and experiences of distress. Her presentation highlighted the value of humanities approaches for understanding the historical meanings attached to physical sensations and their relationship to emotional life.

The event provided an excellent opportunity for interdisciplinary exchange and discussion, fostering new connections between the histories of medicine, emotions, and the body.

Photos by Tobias Schwerdt, courtesy of the Marsilius Kolleg.