FASoS awarded NWO PhDs in the Humanities grant for project on early bird photography and conservation

We are pleased to announce that Pauw Vos has been awarded an NWO PhDs in the Humanities grant for the project “Narratives of the Nest: Early Dutch Bird Photography and the Visual Construction of Conservation (1890–1940)”. Pauw will conduct the project as a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS), under the supervision of Prof. Raf De Bont and Dr. Miriam Meissner.

This year, FASoS is proud to have received one of these highly competitive grants, aimed at stimulating the development of academic talent and promoting high-quality research in the humanities.

About the project

Photography has played a crucial role in shaping ideas about nature and its protection. In the Netherlands, from the late 19th to early 20th century, bird photography emerged not only as a scientific and artistic practice but also as a tool for conservation. Photographers like Adolphe Burdet, Paul Louis Steenhuizen, and Richard Tepe captured images of birds and their habitats, often with the aim of raising public awareness about the importance of protecting these species.

One well-known example is the role of bird photographs in the campaign to protect the Naardermeer, now a major Dutch nature reserve. Images of nesting terns, for instance, served to evoke empathy and mobilise support for preservation efforts.

Pauw’s project investigates how these early bird photographs contributed to the visual construction of conservation and shaped public perceptions of birds and their environments. By analysing historical images and the narratives surrounding them, the project explores how visual media has influenced—and continues to influence—environmental awareness and policy. 

About the NWO PhDs in the Humanities programme

The NWO PhDs in the Humanities programme is part of a national effort to strengthen the humanities in the Netherlands by investing in promising young researchers. The programme provides funding for talented graduates to carry out independent PhD research at Dutch universities, supported by experienced academic supervisors.

We congratulate Pauw Vos on this achievement and look forward to following the development of this exciting research in the years to come.