DOHA: With the current political and ecological uncertainties around the globe, there has never been a better time to understand how societies have shaped and reimagined their worlds, says Dr. Anne-Sophie Pratte (pictured), assistant professor of history at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q).
Recently recognised with the highly competitive Newberry Library Long-Term Residential Fellowship, she will be delving into how Mongol Manuscript Maps produced during China’s last dynasty transformed the region.
Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Mellon Foundation, the fellowship supports researchers conducting extensive work at the Newberry Library, home to a vast collection of historical maps and travel literature.
As an undergraduate at HEC Montreal, Dr. Pratte’s interest in East and Inner Asian studies was sparked by a semester spent studying abroad in China. “I was fascinated by the rich history, ethnic diversity, and the language,” she recalled.
The experience inspired her to pursue her PhD in Inner Asian and Altaic Studies from Harvard University. It is the basis for her forthcoming book project Where the State Meets the Steppe: Mongol Manuscript Maps of the Qing Period, which explores how these maps, created by pastoralist Mongols, reshaped territorial understandings and governance in Inner Asia.
The subject continues to fascinate and excite her. “These maps show that spaces can be radically reimagined, remade, and redrawn—a lesson that resonates with contemporary global challenges,” she explained.
Dr. Pratte will spend the Fall 2025 semester in Chicago exploring the library’s collection. “The Newberry Library’s extensive collection of historical maps is an unparalleled resource for my research. This fellowship will allow me to delve deeply into rare manuscript maps and gain new insights, while learning from fellow map scholars,” she said.
Beyond her research, Dr. Pratte views the fellowship as an opportunity to learn from diverse scholars in her field, while providing material to encourage her students’ in-depth research.
She remarked: “As professors, a key part of our role is to teach students basic research skills. Dedicating a few months to completing a major research project will make me better equipped to teach and inspire students to do substantive research.”
Dr. Pratte credits the strong academic community at GU-Q for inspiring and supporting her application.
“My colleagues encouraged me to apply, shared their own experiences, and even provided application materials to guide me, she said, adding: “I also received institutional support to take a semester abroad, making this opportunity possible. I’m incredibly grateful for this collaborative and encouraging environment.”
As GU-Q celebrates its 20th anniversary in Qatar, the university continues to demonstrate its commitment to academic excellence and cutting-edge research.
Dr. Pratte’s fellowship underscores the university’s role as a hub for world-class scholarship, and her work will contribute to shaping academic discourse on historical and contemporary cartography for years to come.
