In August, Negar participated in the 7th Leiden Summer School on Philology and Manuscripts from the Muslim World 2025, a highly competitive program that accepts only 15 participants each year. Being selected was both an honor and a fortunate opportunity to study and do research in Leiden, where the courses brought together diverse topics, expert lectures and international scholars.
The first week had already been a rich and inspiring experience for her, as the program covered subjects such as the exploration of Islamic manuscripts, both from material and technical approaches to restoration and conservation, or the study of colophons as well as cultural aspects of Ottoman and broader Middle Eastern manuscript traditions.
The main lecturer of the summer school was Dr. Dorrit van Dalen, who provided an overarching framework for the course. Alongside her, several invited speakers offered specialized perspectives. Among them, Negar particularly enjoyed the sessions by Godelieva van der Randen, Kate Pukhovala, and Hans Theunissen, whose lecture on marginal notes in Ottoman manuscripts stood out as especially engaging and memorable.
For Negar, one of the most enjoyable aspects of the summer school had been the chance to communicate in Persian and Turkish, while helping and engaging in discussions about different types of handwriting with fellow participants. She also had the valuable opportunity to explore the Leiden University Library, gaining first-hand access to a wide range of manuscripts. Among these, she paid special attention to decorated papers, which connect directly to the Global Deco Paper project and her own PhD research.
Beyond the academic content, the summer school is also a space to connect with like-minded researchers from around the world. Negar found it both enjoyable and rewarding to meet new colleagues, exchange knowledge, and share experiences in such a stimulating environment.
