About the centre

The Centre’s mission was to advance knowledge in the field of Russian language studies and to foster a broader understanding of Russia through research, academic training and knowledge exchange.

About the Dashkova Centre

The Princess Dashkova Russian Centre was founded in 2010 and funded for twelve years. Over the course of those years, it aimed to promote academic diplomacy and to showcase Russian culture. 

Its main objectives were to:

  • advance research in the area of Russian language in its cultural and social contexts
  • produce a world-class cadre of researchers at postgraduate and postdoctoral levels
  • provide a hub for intellectual exchanges through research fellowships, conferences, lectures, workshops and publications
  • engage in academic diplomacy, serve as a focal point for Russia-related academic activities in partnership with University departments and Edinburgh Global
  • project and other stakeholders, locally, nationally and internationally
  • advise Scottish, UK and EU bodies on issues related to Russian studies
  • serve as a focus for Russia-Scotland cultural exchange, produce a platform for successful outreach to the wider community in Scotland

The Centre produced and hosted many resources, including a library of Russian books, Russian databases, multi-channel satellite television and conference facilities.

About Princess Ekaterina Dashkova

The Centre was named after Princess Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova, one of the leading figures of the Russian enlightenment, who lived in Edinburgh from 1776 to 1779 while her son attended the University. While in Edinburgh, Princess Dashkova lived at the Palace of Holyrood House and was close friends with several of Scotland’s brightest enlightenment thinkers, including William Robertson, Adam Smith, Hugh Blair and Adam Ferguson.

On returning to Russia, she was appointed Director of the Russian Imperial Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg, thus becoming the first woman in the world to lead a national science academy. She also founded the Imperial Academy of the Russian Language. In 1783, she awarded William Robertson, Principal of the University of Edinburgh, with the honorary degree of Doctor of Sacred Theology in her capacity as Director of the Imperial Academy of Sciences.

Princess Ekaterina Dashkova

Her legacy includes thousands of pages of notes, letters, and manuscripts. As an academic, Princess Dashkova is best known for editing the Academic Dictionary of the Russian language, a pioneering work in Russian lexicology of the 18th century.

In 2018, IASH Fellow Georgina Barker undertook a research project titled 'Princess Dashkova, the Woman Who Shook the World' during her time in Edinburgh. The end result of this project was the publication of Georgina's e-book, 'The Enlightened Virago: Princess Dashkova through the Eyes of Others', which told the story of Dashkova’s exploits as seen through the eyes of her contemporaries and posterity, and which you can download and read at the link below.

Download The Enlightened Virago [PDF]

Georgina's project also culminated with an interactive event on 29 November 2018 at St Cecilia's Hall. This featured costumed actors, music, poetry, 18th-century gossip, a performance of one of Dashkova’s own compositions, performed on St Cecilia’s eighteenth-century organ, and a discussion over refreshments.

View the recording of the event on Media Hopper

People

Please note that staff and students' titles and universities, as listed, date from the time of their involvement with the Centre and may have changed since then.

  • Professor Lara Ryazanova-Clarke - University of Edinburgh
  • Professor Luke March - University of Edinburgh
  • Dr Gesine Argent - University of Edinburgh

  • Professor Denis Akhapkin - St Petersburg State University
  • Dr Vadim Golubev - St Petersburg State University
  • Professor Lin Jinghua - Capital Normal University, Beijing
  • Dr Elena Kalimova - Russian Academy of Fine Arts, St Petersburg
  • Dr Ilia Kalinin - St Petersburg State University
  • Dr Victoria Merzlyakova - Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow
  • Dr Aleksandr Sherstobitov - St Petersburg State University
  • Dr Valery Timofeev - St Petersburg State University
  • Professor Ilya Vinitsky - Princeton University

  • Katarzyna Aleksiejuk - Russian Studies PhD, University of Edinburgh
  • Viola Erbach - World Christianity MTh, University of Edinburgh
  • Elena Granina - Social Research MSc, University of Edinburgh
  • Shane McGlinchey - Russian MScR, and French & Russian Studies MA Hons, University of Edinburgh
  • Cathy Ratcliff - Social and Public Policy MSc, University of Edinburgh
  • Robin Veale - Russian Studies and English Literature MA Hons, University of Edinburgh
  • Mikhail Vodopyanov - Translation Studies MSc, University of Edinburgh

  • Gulnaz Sigbatullina (November 2016) - Leiden University
  • Valentina Pudano (February to April 2016) - University of Bologna
  • Valentina Verzeni (January to June 2016) - University of Milan
  • Erika Perico (March to June 2015) - University of Milan
  • Violetta Galitskaya (October to December 2015) - Tomsk State University

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