4–5 December 2025

International Doctoral Colloquium
The Life and Work of Edith Stein
(Hybrid Event – Online and On-Site)

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Edith Stein, also known as Sister Teresia Benedicta of the Cross, was one of the outstanding figures of the 20th century: a philosopher and one of Edmund Husserl’s most renowned students, a passionate educator, a committed advocate for women’s rights, a Carmelite nun, and a victim of the Holocaust – canonized by the Catholic Church and declared Patroness of Europe. These are just a few of the many titles attributed to Edith Stein. The colloquium The Life and Work of Edith Stein aims to highlight and honor the diversity of both her personality and her intellectual legacy.

 

After the success of the previous editions, we are pleased to invite for the fourth time doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to present their work on Edith Stein to a broader audience. In recent years, speakers from Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Italy, France, Mexico, Chile, the United States, Canada, Russia, and Japan have taken part. These presentations offered valuable insights into current research on Edith Stein in fields such as philosophy, theology, psychology, literary studies, pedagogy, art, photography, as well as bioethics and biopolitics.

 

The aim of the colloquium is to provide young scholars with the opportunity to present their research findings, engage in academic dialogue, and promote both professional and international exchange.

 

Suggested Topics:

The presentations should include contributions on Edith Stein’s life and work, her writings, teaching, and the contemporary relevance of her thought. Possible topics may include, for example:

- Stein's understanding and contribution to phenomenology

- The problem of empath

- Edith Stein's contribution to educational science

- Stein's philosophical and theological anthropology

- The relationship between thought and faith in Edith Stein

- The role and significance of Thomism in Stein's thought

- Carmelite spirituality in Stein's works

- Edith Stein's thoughts on the position of women

- Edith Stein and the Jewish tradition

- Edith Stein's contacts with other scholars: Husserl, Scheler, Ingarden, Maritain etc,

...and many others!

 

Presentation Format and Application:

Presentations should be 30 minutes long, followed by a 15-minute discussion. To register for the colloquium, please use our application form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q_C8gKJUOhNL_YQ_QV4dHz1mX_MtGXIJ/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111096725648666331389&rtpof=true&sd=true Please send your proposal, including the presentation title, an abstract (min. 300 words), and a short academic CV by September 5, 2025, to: Dr. Monika Adamczyk-Enriquez (Email: edithstein.veranstaltungen@gmail.com) You will be notified about the acceptance of your proposal by September 25, 2025.

 

General information: 

• To allow as many people as possible to participate, the colloquium will be held in three languages: German, English, and Spanish.

• For the first time, the event will take place in a hybrid format, allowing for both in-person participation in Cologne and online attendance.

• Participation is free of charge, both online and on-site.

•  As the goal of the colloquium is to foster academic networking, an informal exchange session is planned at the end of the event to enable participants to get to know each other better.

 

Dr. Monika Adamczyk-Enriquez (E-Mail-Adresse: edithstein.veranstaltungen@gmail.com), who is in charge of the colloquium, will be happy to answer any questions regarding content and organization.