International Workshop on Transnational Histories of Telecommunications

The goal of the proposed workshop is to explore and discuss recent developments related to the field of transnational history of telecommunications, with specific focus on the role of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Consequently, this workshop is at the intersection of three main topics of research: the history of telecommunications, transnational studies in communication and the history of the ITU as the most relevant international organization for telecommunication history.

This workshop has three main objectives: the first is to compare different approaches, methodologies and research avenues employed in telecommunications history scholarship; the second is to discuss the role of the ITU as a subject of research and as a place to conduct research; finally, the last goal involves creating a platform of scholars for the development of further collaborations and scientific publications.

The workshop is co-organized by Professor Gabriele Balbi in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It will take place on 17-19 December 2015 at ITU with the financial support of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Swiss Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM).

This workshop is related to the larger research project directed by Professor Balbi, “Inventing European Wireless. A cultural history of wireless from point-to-point telegraphy to one-to-many broadcasting, 1903-1927”, which runs from 2014 to 2017 with the financial support of the SNSF.