Research Centre for the History of Experience (HEX)

This research centre builds upon the local expertise developed by the Academy of Finland's Centre of Excellence in the History of Experience (HEX, 2018–2025). Like its earlier incarnation, this interdisciplinary centre seeks to rethink the many meanings and functions of experience in history and historiography alike, and craft new understandings of the concept of experience. 

The Research Centre develops novel understandings of historical experiences, historical explanations and historical knowledge, and their place in the current world. It drives conceptual and methodological innovation by creating new definitions of experience and expanding its use as a vital category of historical analysis. In particular, the Research Centre spotlights interactions between individuals, communities, and societies, tracing how the circulation of experience relates to historical change and continuity. Experience, moreover, is understood as embracing direct yet socially determined experience, meaning-making processes, and structures arising from such meaning-making. If experience is understood thus, it can form an avenue into examining not merely individual experience but also society in terms of experience. 

The earlier Centre of Excellence was composed of three research teams (Lived Religion, Lived Nation, and Lived Welfare state), and these concerns continue to be considered by the Research Centre. 

The Research Centre is an interdisciplinary hub of scholarly activity that organizes conferences, workshops and seminars, attracts research projects, and facilitates collaboration between researchers in history, literary studies, gender studies, art history, education, architecture, and sociology.

Professor, Director of HEX
Pirjo Markkola
pirjo.markkola [at] tuni.fi
+358 50 3187 731

Coordinator
Mikko Kemppainen
mikko.kemppainen [at] tuni.fi
+358 40 1901 557

Facabook: www.facebook.com/historyofexperiences
Bluesky: hexhistory.bsky.social