The refugee abyss | In-person

“Does the world know we exist?”

This is the powerful question at the centre of lecturer and researcher Hyab Yohannes’talk. Urging audiences to confront the harsh realities faced by forcibly displaced people, Hyab asks the existential questions these experiences provoke.

He traces the voices of those displaced and seeking refuge, uncovering their open wounds and scars, all while beginning to imagine a poetics of transition – from violability and disposability to restoration and relation.

Speaking as a displaced voice himself, Hyab offers a deeply moving and thought-provoking reflection that challenges dominant ideas of power, belonging, and identity.

This talk will be deliver with humility and a deep sense of vulnerability at the forefront, inviting engagement grounded in care, curiosity, and criticality.

Important points to note

• This event is suitable for age 16+

• Content warning: Please note that this event may contain some distressing stories involving refugee trafficking, torture, rape, and death during perilous journeys that will be shared.
• Filming: Photography may take place at this event. Please let a member of the RSE Public Engagement team know if you do not want to be photographed.
• Covid-19: If you would like to wear a face mask, please feel comfortable to do so at our events. Please be mindful of other participants and stay at home if you have Covid symptoms or have tested positive for Covid-19.

SPEAKER

Dr Hyab Yohannes

Lecturer in Forced Migration and Decolonial Education, University of Glasgow

Hyab Yohannes is a Lecturer in Forced Migration and Decolonial Education with the UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts (RIELA) at the University of Glasgow. He conducts research and synthesises findings to address theoretical, methodological, and policy-related questions. Recently, Hyab co-edited a Special Issue on Intercultural Knowledge Production for the Journal of Language and Intercultural Communication and a book titled Cultures of Sustainable Peace for Multilingual Matters. His forthcoming book, The Refugee Abyss, will be published by Routledge. Hyab’s research interests include poetics, decoloniality, and political theory, particularly across physical, onto-epistemic, spatio-temporal, and juridico-political dimensions.

About the Curious festival

The RSE’s free Curious festival of knowledge is back, from Saturday 6 − Saturday 14 September 2025!

Curious is a festival of ideas – open to all and driven by connection, conversation, and discovery. It’s a chance to explore ideas and questions that matter with some of Scotland’s leading thinkers – and with people who bring their own lived experiences, insights, and curiosity to the table.

From science and society to arts and innovation, the programme spans a wide range of topics – with each event designed to spark dialogue, invite different perspectives, and encourage knowledge exchange.

Curious is an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, plus those who see the world differently, and be part of discussions where everyone is welcome to share, learn, and be inspired. Full programme of events here.

Accessibility

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