Dr. Bregje Van Eekelen

Biography

Bregje van Eekelen holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is a Senior Researcher in the History of Social Human Sciences at Erasmus University Rotterdam's School of History, Culture, and Communication. Her research spans various topics including the socio-historical conditions of concepts in the military-industrial context. She focuses on how concepts like 'marketplace ideas' and 'knowledge economy' have emerged through the intersection of social, political, and cultural processes. Van Eekelen has published works in journals such as the Journal of Cultural Economy and Annual Review of Anthropology, often exploring themes of creativity in historical contexts, especially in relation to military and managerial rationalities. Notably, she’s involved in several high-profile research initiatives, having received significant funding from institutions such as the National Science Foundation, where she's led projects examining depoliticization and public interest. Her teaching experience also reflects her research interests, emphasizing the connections between anthropology, knowledge, and modern societies. She participated in important academic collaborations and has held positions including co-chair of the Young Erasmus Academy and founding member of the Erasmus Institute for Public Knowledge.

Research Interests