UC Irvine and the Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation have established a long-term collaborative agreement for the publication of the Encyclopædia Iranica that designates the renowned Dr. Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies as the new home for the Encyclopædia. Professor Touraj Daryaee, Maseeh Chair in Persian Studies & Culture and the Director of the Center, has been appointed as the new Editor-in-Chief.
Encyclopædia Iranica is a leading resource dedicated to the promotion and study of Iranian civilization. Founded by Professor Ehsan Yarshater in 1990 at the Center for Iranian Studies at Columbia University, the Encyclopædia is a multi-volume, multi-disciplinary work designed to provide a detailed and accurate picture of an important world civilization over a span of several thousand years. The Encyclopædia will be available both in print and in a new updated online format, which will be free and open to the public and scholars.
UC Irvine was chosen as the site for Encyclopædia Iranica through a rigorous international competition. “Housing this internationally recognized collection on our campus strengthens our research enterprise by providing scholars and students with direct access to curated knowledge, fostering new research and cross-disciplinary collaboration in understanding the Jordan Center's work,” says Vice Chancellor for Research Pramod P. Khargonekar.
Encyclopædia Iranica is supported by the Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting the study of Iranian civilization, particularly through the Encyclopædia. Dr. Ramine Rouhani, Chair of the Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation, notes, “We are confident that UCI's exceptional academic reputation and its extensive experience in Iranian studies, particularly as evidenced by the Jordan Center's robust research, educational and cultural programs, will be instrumental in furthering the vital mission of the Encyclopædia Iranica.”
Encyclopædia Iranica benefits not only those interested in Persian life and culture but also students, specialists and the educated general reader across a wide range of academic disciplines. These include, but are not limited to, anthropology, archaeology, geography, art history, ethnology, sociology, economics, the history of religion, philosophy, mysticism, the history of science and medicine, Islamic history, botany, zoology, folklore, the development of agriculture and industry, political science, international relations and diplomatic history.
“Encyclopædia Iranica is the most important scholarly tool for Iranian studies in the world. It is an honor to take charge of the Encyclopædia Iranica and continue its mission for introducing the Iranian World to its largest extent,” says Dr. Daryaee.
Encyclopædia Iranica is an international undertaking that draws on the most authoritative scholarship worldwide to ensure the quality and reliability of its articles. To date, more than 1,300 scholars from around the globe have contributed articles in various languages, including English, Russian, Persian, Turkish and Chinese. In Volume I alone, articles were contributed by 285 authors. Prior to moving to UC Irvine, seventeen volumes of the Encyclopædia Iranica covering letters A to K have been published in print format and about 9,000 articles have been published in digital format.
To learn more about the Encyclopædia Iranica, please visit: https://www.iranicaonline.org/