16/08/2026
Persian Studies at Cambridge at the 15th Biennial Iranian Studies Conference
The Persian Studies team at FAMES, University of Cambridge, was delighted to participate fully in the 15th Biennial Iranian Studies Conference, held at Utrecht University from 5–8 August. It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and friends from across the field, exchange ideas, and contribute to the vibrant discussions that continue to shape Iranian Studies today.
The Cambridge team was actively involved throughout the conference, organising and chairing panels, presenting research, attending other panels, participating in discussions, and engaging with colleagues across different areas of Iranian and Persian Studies.
We were particularly pleased that our own Prof. Christine Van Ruymbeke delivered the keynote address on the first day, entitled “Changes, Challenges and Opportunities: Persian Literary Studies in this Second Quarter of the 21st Century.” Her thought-provoking keynote addressed some of the major developments and challenges facing Persian literary studies today and was warmly received by conference participants.
Dr Mahbod Ghaffari presented a workshop-style session entitled “Using Videos in Language Teaching: Bridging Linguistic Competence and Cultural Literacy,” exploring the potential of audiovisual materials and cinema as a bridge between language learning and the development of cultural literacy.
Dr Assef Ashraf presented his research on “Economic Thinking in Qajar-Era Political Thought.” We were also delighted to celebrate the recognition of his important monograph, Making and Remaking Empire in Early Qajar Iran (Cambridge University Press, 2024), which received an Honourable Mention for the 2026 Saidi-Sirjani Book Prize. Awarded every two years, the prize recognises outstanding scholarship in Iranian Studies. This recognition is a wonderful testament to the significance of Assef’s research and contribution to the field.
The team also greatly missed the presence of our colleague Prof. Saloumeh Gholami, British Academy Global Professor in Zoroastrian Studies at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge. Her absence was certainly felt, and we look forward to having her with us at future conferences.
Overall, the conference was an inspiring and productive gathering, providing an excellent platform for Persian and Iranian Studies at Cambridge to engage with the wider international academic community.
Our sincere thanks to the organisers of the 15th Biennial Iranian Studies Conference, Prof. Dominic Parviz Brookshaw (University of Oxford) and Prof. Asghar Seyed-Ghorab (Utrecht University) for bringing together such a vibrant and diverse community of scholars. We look forward to continuing these conversations and collaborations in the years ahead.
