What's better than a traditional spa day? According to Ph.D. Candidate Ebru Erginbas, a spa day in the elements!
Ebru spent her late spring and summer in various archives and historic bath/spa towns in the United States and Europe. Ebru is particularly interested in the 19th century socialization and commodification process in these spa towns and in their respective spheres of influence. She primarily examines the multilayered role of transimperial intermediaries in expansion of "new" spa culture across Europe and the United States. By particularly focusing on the 19th century transimperial and transatlantic hot spots from Bithynia to Saratoga Springs, Ebru explores the interconnectivity between the medical knowledge creation and health and wellness industry.
Throughout her time in the archives and various bath locations, Ebru also presented two papers. The first titled, "Back to Nature Before Parting: Karl Ambros Bernard (1808-1844), Modernization of Ottoman Medicine and Hydro-tourism," was presented at Central European University's Humans and Nature Graduate Conference. The second, "Distilling A Hot Commodity: Revitalization of Hydrothermal Therapies and Trans-imperial Medical Knowledge Creation in the 19th Century Ottoman Empire" was presented at an Exeter University workshop called 'Healthscapes: Environmental and Health Pathways across the Middle East and North Africa.'
Learn more about "Distilling A Hot Commodity: Revitalization of Hydrothermal Therapies and Trans-imperial Medical Knowledge Creation in the 19th Century Ottoman Empire."
Learn more about "Back to Nature Before Parting: Karl Ambros Bernard (1808-1844), Modernization of Ottoman Medicine and Hydro-tourism."