Iwona Gusc

Iwona Gusc is a Lecturer in the Department of History at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her work bridges academic research and societal engagement, focusing on memory, identity, and historical consciousness in East-Central Europe, particularly Poland, and its transnational connections with the Netherlands.

Her research interests lie at the intersection of oral history, intergenerational memory transmission, Holocaust historiography, and cultural identity. She explores how traumatic pasts are remembered—or suppressed—under socialist regimes and how these memories are passed across generations, especially in mixed Polish-Dutch families. Her work integrates public history and applied memory practices.

The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on Polish-Dutch historical relations, memory politics, and the reception of Jewish history in postwar Europe. Themes such as the translation of Anne Frank’s diary in Poland, Dutch reactions to anti-Jewish policies in 1968, and contemporary commemorations reveal a deep engagement with the ethical dimensions of history and public remembrance.

Scientific Awards:

• The ESHCC Societal Engagement Award (2025)
• Fellowship for the Project on Intergenerational Transmission of Memory and Identity within Postwar Mixed Polish-Dutch Families (2024)

Dr. Gusc is actively involved in academic advising, public scholarship, and research dissemination. She has delivered numerous invited talks, oral presentations, and expert media commentaries on Polish history, European memory cultures, and current political developments in Eastern Europe. She also contributes to editorial work and peer review, and has co-organized academic events such as the Han Entzinger Master’s Thesis Award Ceremony.

She is a key contributor to the ERMeCHS research clusters, particularly in the areas of Heritage & Identity and The Visual in Media, Culture, Society & History, where she collaborates on interdisciplinary projects exploring visual and narrative forms of historical representation.