Sigrid Rieuwerts

P.D. Dr. Sigrid Rieuwerts is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English and Linguistics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. She is the founder and first president of the Society for Scottish Studies in Europe, established in 2011 to promote academic research on Scottish literature, culture, history, and society. Her work focuses on Scottish literary heritage, including projects like the joint DFG-funded research initiative on Sir Walter Scott’s ballads. She holds a Fellowship at the University of Edinburgh’s Celtic and Scottish Department, collaborating closely with international institutions.

Key roles include leading a €500,000 interdisciplinary research project on 'The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border,' co-organizing conferences (e.g., on Sir Walter Scott), and advocating for Scottish studies across Europe. She has secured partnerships with universities in Edinburgh, Cologne, Göttingen, and Reykjavik, fostering student internships and faculty exchanges. Her initiatives include launching an annual journal and engaging with non-academic bodies like the German Consulate in Edinburgh.

As a scholar, she bridges literary analysis with cultural preservation, emphasizing Scotland’s evolving identity post-parliament restoration. Her advisory roles include serving on the Society’s board with experts like Dr. Stuart Kelly and Dr. Kirsten Sandrock. Her office in Edinburgh near Walter Scott’s childhood home underscores her deep engagement with Scottish cultural landscapes.