The SRC has invited three noted scholars as foreign fellows for 2003-2004: Znamenski, Andrei A. (Department of Humanities, Alabama State University, USA), Bobrov, Alexandre G. (Department of Old Russian Literature, Institute of Russian Literature, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg) and Swain, Nigel J. (Centre for Central and European Studies, School of History, University of Liverpool).  These three scholars will stay in Sapporo until the end of March 2004.

Dr. Andrei A. Znamenski  is one of the leading specialists in the field of history and ethnology of Siberia.  His recent book Shamanism and Christianity: Native Encounters with Russian Orthodox Missions in Siberia and Alaska, 1820-1917 (published in 1999) is favorably evaluated by historians and ethnologists.  The title of his research project at the SRC is "Shamanism in Siberia: indigenous spirituality in Russian imagination."

Dr. Alexandre G. Bobrov  is a philologist, specializing in medieval Russian literature.  Recently he has been making a research on the Novgorod Chronicles of the 15th century.  His research project at the SRC focuses on the authenticity of the Igor's Tale.

Dr. Nigel J. Swain  is a sociologist-historian, specializing in rural problems in Central Europe and the Balkans.  He actively researches the post-socialist transition in Central and Eastern European countries.  At the SRC he develops his recent research on rural transition, with special reference to Hungary.

            In addition, the SRC will accept the following short-term visiting fellows in the first quarter of 2004: Tamara I. Hundorova (Institute of Literature, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine), Stanislav Z. Lakoba (Department of Archeology and Ethnology, Abkhaz State University, Russia),  Yulia O. Novik (Department of the Humanities, Kamchatka State Pedagogical University, Russia) and Leonid A. Taimasov (Department of History, Chuvash State University, Russia).
            Details regarding applications for short-term visiting fellows for June 2004 to March 2005 will be available in January-February 2004.  Please see the SRC Web page for further information.

            Three scholars have been selected as foreign fellows for 2004-2005: Lukoianov, Igor V. (Institute of History, Russian Academy of Sciences, St.-Petersburg), Werth, Paul W. (Department of History, University of Nevada, Las Vegas) and Shnirelman, Victor A. (Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow).  They will stay in Sapporo from June/July 2004 through February/March 2005.

Dr. Igor V. Lukoianov  is a prominent historian, specializing in the Russian history of the 19th-20th centuries.  He recently researches the internal and foreign policies of the Russian Empire in the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.  The title of his research project at the SRC will be "Russia in the Far East, 1890-1904: the choice of policy."

Dr. Paul W. Werth  is also a historian, specializing in the Russian history of the 19th century.  He recently wrote his first book  At the Margins of Orthodoxy: Mission, Governance and Confessional Politics in Russia's Volga-Kama Region 1827-1905 (published in 2002).  The title of his research project at the SRC will be "Arbiters of the sacred: 'foreign confessions' and religious toleration in the Russian Empire, 1772-1914."

Dr. Victor A. Shnirelman  is a specialist of cultural anthropology who researches ethnological ideologies in the USSR and post-Soviet independent states.  Recently his research focuses on ethnological views of the past, the problems of ethnic identities and political use of prehistory, xenophobia and ethnic tensions in the regions of Russia.  The title of his research project at the SRC will be "Intellectuals and politics in the North Caucasus in the 20th century."

            The SRC invites applications for the Foreign Visitors Fellowship Program from Slavic studies specialists in the fields of literature, history, international relations, economics, political sciences, sociology, geography and ethnology, tenable for nine to ten months between June 2005 and March 2006.
            The SRC will provide one round-trip air ticket, a living allowance, inexpensive accommodations in the University's Foreign  Scholars' Residence, a domestic travel allowance and an office at the SRC with the use of a personal computer.  Visiting scholars are expected to spend 9-10 months at the SRC, but are free to engage in a limited amount of travel for professional purposes in Japan.  Although there are no teaching duties, it is expected for them to give talks and consultation with the members of the staff and graduate students.  The SRC expects fellows to do two formal presentations or lectures on topics of their choice as well as occasional seminars.  The SRC further expects the fellows to contribute an article during their stay in Sapporo to the SRC's  international refereed journal Acta Slavica Iaponica, on a subject of their choice within the broad confines of Slavic, Russian, and East European studies.  
            Application forms are available from the SRC or from its Web site.  Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2004.  Preference will be given to those who have either a firm academic position or a Ph.D. degree (or its equivalent).  Applicants will be informed of selection results by mid-July, 2004.