Volkswagen Foundation revolutionizes historical studies in Bielefeld!

Volkswagen Foundation revolutionizes historical studies in Bielefeld!

On April 22, 2025, Bielefeld University announced a significant funding commitment of almost one million euros from the Volkswagen Foundation. This support is part of an innovative research project led by Professor Dr. Lisa Regazzoni, which aims to fundamentally rethink the understanding of history.

The project, titled “Towards a Material-Oriented Theory of History,” is expected to start in early 2026. Regazzoni and her team aim to question traditional historical scholarship, which often interprets the past as a collection of completed events. Instead, the project leader wants to show how historical phenomena are influenced by materials, methods and the perspectives of observers.

Focus on materiality

A central element of the project is the investigation of specific “theoretical things”, such as iron slag, pebbles or stains on baptismal hoods. These materials are used to develop new scientific questions regarding the relationships between natural and human history. The focus here is on the term “materiality”, which is applicable not only to the history of material culture, but also to numerous other research areas such as the history of medicine and technology.

The recognition that the physical nature of the world must be taken seriously is widespread in historical research. The aim of the ongoing discussion is to identify intersections and similarities between different concepts of materiality and to make these usable for empirical work, such as Historian's Day section presented on this topic.

Theory-oriented object laboratory

Another important component of the project is the planned theory-oriented object laboratory (“TOOL”), in which historians and natural scientists will jointly analyze historical objects. Dr. Boaz Paz, an expert in archaeometry, will use special microscopes and chemical techniques to examine the materials in detail.

The TOOL collection consists of 40 special objects, including a collection of figures by the well-known historian Reinhart Koselleck. By bringing together the natural sciences and the humanities, a common language should be created that makes it possible to develop a new theory of history. These theories are intended to benefit all historical disciplines and promote interdisciplinary collaboration.

Future of historical science

Regazzoni, who received her doctorate in philosophy in 2006 and completed her habilitation in modern history in 2020, has dedicated herself to the challenges of historical science since her appointment as professor of historical theory at Bielefeld University. Her work is part of a broader trend devoted to the critical analysis of materials in historical scholarship.

The Volkswagen Foundation's Momentum program supports such innovative projects for up to seven years and offers young professors the freedom they need to explore new research avenues. The project grant of 935,000 euros encourages researchers to develop new and creative approaches to historical science and specifically promotes their interdisciplinary collaboration.