Founded in 2007 as the Centre for Literature and Trauma (LITRA), CMSI assumed its current name in 2014 to reflect the widening scope of its members’ research interests. Cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary in orientation, CMSI is one of the foremost research initiatives in memory and trauma studies in Europe.
The purpose of CMSI, which is led by Prof. Dr. Stef Craps of the Department of Literary Studies, is to promote interaction and exchange among its members, to increase the visibility of our research, to foster and facilitate research and teaching collaborations, and to establish relations with other (groups of) researchers in the field. CMSI is a founding partner of Mnemonics: Network for Memory Studies, an international collaborative initiative for graduate education in memory studies.
CMSI organizes various kinds of activities, including occasional events such as conferences, panels, and workshops as well as an internal seminar series (serving as a forum for members to present ongoing research, discuss project plans, etc.) and a lecture series featuring prominent outside speakers.