Romani Studies is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the history, culture, and experiences of the Romani people. Such studies are often in direct opposition to popular images and understanding of exactly who makes up this transnational group of minorities.  As Annabel Trimlett writes, “Romani Studies thus sees itself as a space for anti- racist type intervention - a means of revealing a realistic picture of a heterogeneous minority.”1

At the present time there are few academic programs devoted to Romani Studies, but there are scattered courses in universities around the world, particularly in East and Central Europe.  The first academic Romani conference in the US was held in 2011 at Berkeley.  As the world of Roma is introduced, though with tremendous bias, to mainstream media worldwide, it is expected the field will expand and, particularly in Europe, emerge as a specialized academic discipline. 

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Gypsy Lore Society: The Gypsy Lore Society, an international association of persons interested in Gypsy and Traveler Studies, was founded in Great Britain in 1888. Since 1989 it has been headquartered in the United States. Its goals include promotion of the study of Gypsy, Traveler, and analogous peripatetic cultures worldwide; dissemination of accurate information aimed at increasing understanding of these cultures in their diverse forms; and establishment of closer contacts among scholars studying any aspects of these cultures.