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Summer School for young scholars “Crises and Grand Challenges in European Past and Present”1-3 September 2015The Summer School is an initiative of the group of early career scholars in the Tensions of Europe network established in 2014. It is planned as a part of the 7th Tensions of Europe Conference to be held in Stockholm in September, 2015.The purpose of the Summer School is to bring Phd students and early career scholars together to discuss crises and challenges in European history from the perspective of technology. As Beck and Giddens showed, technology and science are shaping our lives, creating risks and unintended consequences for the environment, our health and wellbeing making explicit the role of technology in the rising global uncertainty. It sets a question if the innovative capacity of the modern/postmodern society can be a continuous carrier of future growth in Europe.We invite contributions to consider different crises and critical points through the history of such phenomena as climate change and use of energy resources, transport and mobility, public health, migration, and demography, among others. One of key concepts to be discussed is sustainability and its possibilities and limits in overcoming crises in the historical perspective. The role of technology is crucial in solving all the crises and technology provides the ground for a continuous search for new sustainable solutions. Learning about technology and its role in overcoming the crises brings a valuable approach and helps analyze all the problems together. In this respect we assume that analyzing the historical roots and developments of crises as well as attempts to find solutions in the historical perspective will bring more opportunities for the politics of sustainability and meeting future needs. We are suggesting each issue to be approached as a continuous phenomenon in order to show where the problem is rooted, who took measures to develop solutions to challenges, what expertise and resources were attracted in the process, etc. In short, the role of technology is crucial in solving all the crises and technology provides the ground for a continuous search for new sustainable solutions.We expect cases that study primarily Europe, but not exclusively. Many crises show its connections with other parts of the world and enable us to examine global ramifications in, for example, transfers of resources or labor migration as well as to colonial and post-colonial histories. Which spaces have been in crisis under which circumstances and at which times? What has the role of technology been in these different crises, as well as the proposed solutions? How have the crises enforced existing social, economic and cultural structures, and/or created new ones?The School will consist of different forms of activities. We invite presentations of current research both in face-to-face form as well as virtually. The contribution might be in any form, not restricted by a traditional paper presentation. It might be research project presentation or draft article as well as other profound pieces you would like to discuss and receive a comment. In addition, we plan general sessions by guest speakers and place for discussion on future prospects of young scholars` group as well as possibilities of launching sub-projects within the group.  Although crises and challenges will be the main topic of discussion, we also welcome contributions on other themes.The summer school will take place in Stockholm directly before the Tensions of Europe conference 1-3 September. There will be possibilities to attend virtually as well as on site. If you are interested in joining us, please send an email to us before 1 August 2015. The email should include 1) a short biography and 2) a short proposal of no more than two paragraphs outlining your contribution/presentation to the workshop and the way it connects to the general theme of the workshop.Send your applications and questions to:Anna Åberg: anna.katarina.aberg@gmail.comElena Kochetkova: lena-kochetkova2008@yandex.ruLink:Call for participants: Summer School for young scholars “Crises and Grand Challenges in European Past and Present”