Date: 27-28 February 2025
Location: The Bridge Room, THB-1001, Floor 1, Hardiman Research Building, University of Galway
The PIETRA Advisory Board Meetings were a series of engaging discussions on translation theory, reflexivity in research, and the materiality of religious texts. The presentations and workshop by several members of the project’s Advisory Board provided valuable insights into contemporary translation studies, while the one-on-one meetings allowed for productive exchanges and collaborative planning. All the participants expressed enthusiasm for continued interdisciplinary dialogue and future research initiatives within the PIETRA project.
The meetings commenced on February 27th at 10:00 am, with a workshop on “Positionality and Reflexivity” led by Professor Kaisa Koskinen from Tampere University. The session provided participants with practical frameworks for understanding their roles in translation research, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and methodological transparency in academic inquiries.
The day continued with an informal lunch, which offered us with an opportunity to network and engage in preliminary discussions. The afternoon was dedicated to individual advisory meetings, a series of one-on-one meetings allowing participants to engage in focused discussions on their respective research areas.
The second day of the advisory board meetings began with further scheduled discussions and continued with two lectures. At 10:00 am, Professor Hephzibah Israel (the University of Edinburgh) presented her research on “Materializing the Translated Bible: Object, Fetish, and Faith.” Her talk examined the intersection of translation studies and religious material culture, considering how the translated Bible functions as both an object of faith and a material artifact within different communities. At 12:00 pm, Professor Piotr Blumczynski (Queen’s University Belfast) delivered a presentation titled “(Mis)applying Benjamin’s ‘aura’ to translation theory.” This session explored Walter Benjamin’s concept of ‘aura’ within the field of translation studies, critically assessing its applicability to contemporary translation practices and theoretical discourses.
The day ended with a late lunch at the Moffetts and delightful time with Sofia, the youngest of the PIETRA children.