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Karolina Maria Kotkowska is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Comparative Civilization Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. Her academic career centers on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of esoteric studies, intellectual history, and cultural phenomena with a focus on Central and Eastern Europe. Her educational background includes degrees in pedagogy, ethnology, and philosophy. She earned her Ph.D. in Philosophy with distinction from the Jagiellonian University in 2021, with a doctoral dissertation on Polish theosophy. Her academic journey includes a six-month internship at the HHP Centre at the University of Amsterdam funded through her National Science Centre Etiuda 4 grant. Dr. Kotkowska's research primarily explores Western esotericism, with particular emphasis on Theosophy and the Theosophical Society in Poland and globally. Her work investigates the boundaries between scientific discourse and occultism at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, new religious movements from a comparative perspective, and the role of esoteric ideas in shaping cultural phenomena. She employs intellectual history as her primary methodology to examine alternative spirituality and its cultural manifestations. Her extensive publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output across multiple journals and edited volumes, with a clear focus on Central and Eastern European esoteric traditions. Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary relevance, examining how esoteric ideas continue to influence modern culture. The thematic progression of her research shows increasing sophistication in methodology and expanding geographical scope, from specifically Polish contexts to broader Central and Eastern European frameworks. Doctoral dissertation defended with distinction at Jagiellonian University National Science Centre Etiuda 4 scholarship recipient Coordinator of EU-funded CEMORY project (2025-2027) Project leader for National Science Centre grants (Sonata 19, Opus 23, Preludium 6) Co-founder of CEENASWE (Central and Eastern European Network for the Academic Study of Western Esotericism) Co-founder of Polish Association for the Study of Western Esotericism Dr. Kotkowska leads multiple significant research projects including the EU-funded 'Central European Memory of the Holocaust in a Multicultural and Multidimensional Perspective' (CEMORY) as coordinator, and several National Science Centre projects including 'Blurred Boundaries Between Scientific and Occult Discourse at the Turn of the 20th Century' and 'Theosophical Pedagogy: Relationships of a 19th-Century Project to Spirituality and Educational Theory.' She has established herself as a key figure in her field through her organizational roles in academic networks and editorial contributions to scholarly publications. As a co-founder and board member of CEENASWE (the Central and Eastern European Network for the Academic Study of Western Esotericism) and the Polish Association for the Study of Western Esotericism, Dr. Kotkowska has helped establish institutional frameworks for esoteric studies in the region. Her work connects with the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism (ESSWE), positioning her research within broader international scholarly conversations.

• Western Esotericism
• Theosophy
• Intellectual History
• +5 more

Dr hab. Elżbieta Flis-Czerniak is a full professor at the Institute of Polish Philology, Faculty of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University. Her research focuses on Polish literature from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, particularly its Romantic tradition influences and interplay with philosophical concepts. Specializes in Tadeusz Miciński's works Explores melancholia and fourth dimension symbolism Investigates Polish-Lithuanian literary connections Examines art-literature correspondences Her publications reveal deep engagement with: Modernist literary techniques Esoteric knowledge transmission National consciousness evolution Interdisciplinary cultural analysis Current research includes: Polish-Baltic cultural networks Historiography of Młoda Polska movement Archival epistolary studies Comparative revolutionary narratives

• Polish Literature
• Late 19th and Early 20th Century Literature
• Romantic Tradition in Literature
• +7 more

Anna Gomóła is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Cultural and Interdisciplinary Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice. She holds the academic title of Professor of the University of Silesia and has been actively contributing to cultural studies, anthropology, and literary research for over two decades. Her work spans multiple interdisciplinary domains, with a strong focus on cultural theory, the anthropology of science, and literature for children and youth. PhD, 1999 – University of Silesia, Faculty of Philology Habilitation, 2012 – University of Silesia, Faculty of Philology Master's Degrees, 1992 & 1994 – University of Silesia, Faculty of Philology Her research interests include cultural theory, cultural and intellectual history, anthropology of science, time as a cultural phenomenon, and yoga in cultural contexts. She explores how cultural norms, identities, and knowledge systems evolve, particularly through literary and anthropological lenses. Her work often intersects with pedagogy, intangible heritage, and the sociology of academic life. Her recent publications reflect a deep engagement with interdisciplinary themes such as the emotional labor of scholarship, narcissistic culture, palimpsest spaces, and the cultural processing of food and yoga. These works demonstrate a consistent focus on identity, memory, and the boundaries of cultural expression across historical and contemporary contexts. Anna Gomóła has received research grants from the National Science Centre (NCN) and participated in international projects, including those funded by the Research Council of Lithuania. She has also led the "Academization of the City" project, promoting academic engagement with urban communities. Co-investigator, Social circulation of knowledge in the practices of academic humanities (NCN OPUS 19, 2021–ongoing) Co-investigator, Polish Cultural Studies. History and heritage of the discipline (NPRH, 2014–2018) Participant, Publication of Jonas Vitartas’ ethnological heritage (Lithuania, 2017) She is co-editor of the 'Heritage' section in Loci Communes. International Journal of Studies on Spaces in Arts and Humanities, Anthropology and Architecture and has contributed to major edited volumes on old age, cultural knowledge in schools, and the legacy of Jan Michał Witort. Her academic outreach includes public presentations, such as at the Vilnius Book Fair 2018, and community-based publications like Kocynder. 50 lat , funded by the city of Chorzów. She is a member of the Polish Cultural Studies Society, the Committee on Cultural Studies at the Polish Academy of Sciences, and the Commission for Research on the History of Siberia. Her scholarly network includes collaborations with researchers in Lithuania and across Poland, reflecting her transnational academic engagement.

• Cultural Theory
• Cultural History
• Anthropology of Science
• +9 more

Kamila Gęsikowska, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Culture Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Silesia in Katowice. Her academic work centers on the theory and history of culture, with a focus on 19th and 20th-century cultural institutions and anthropological interpretations of Hebrew biblical texts. Her research interests include the history of theoretical and cultural thought, esoteric movements such as Theosophy and Spiritism, yoga in cultural contexts, and gift theory in biblical Hebrew. She explores how cultural concepts like 'culture' and 'civilization' have evolved, particularly in Polish and European intellectual traditions. Her recent publications reflect a strong interdisciplinary trend, combining cultural history, anthropology, and religious studies. She frequently examines overlooked or marginalized cultural phenomena, such as early Polish writings on yoga, theosophical societies, and extrasensory perception. Her work often bridges historical analysis with anthropological theory. Member of the Polish Cultural Studies Society Secretary of the international journal Loci Communes. International Journal of Studies on Spaces in Arts and Humanities, Anthropology and Architecture (since 2020) Researcher in the 'Academization of the City' project (2018–2020), funded by the University of Silesia Co-author of the book Kocynder: 50 Years , financed by the Chorzów city funds Dr. Gęsikowska has also delivered public lectures, such as 'Kinship and Affinity, Family, Marriage' within the 'University of Humanities at the University of Silesia' project. She actively contributes to academic dissemination through co-editing volumes and publishing in peer-reviewed journals. She has no listed scientific awards in the provided texts, but her scholarly output and engagement indicate a robust academic presence in cultural studies and interdisciplinary humanities.

• Theory and History of Culture
• History of Theoretical and Cultural Thought
• 19th and 20th Century Cultural Institutions
• +7 more