HGGS - Us and Them

Associate Prof. Dr. Marija Banovic (Department of Management, Aarhus University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)

- What determines whether consumers accept and adopt emerging agrifood technologies?
- How do familiarity, taste, price, culture, health, sustainability, and perceived risks shape our food choices?
- How can technological innovation, consumer preferences, and sustainability be brought together to transform food systems?

In this episode, Associate Prof. Dr. Marija Banovic from the Department of Management at Aarhus University discusses the complex relationship between technological innovation and consumer acceptance. Drawing on her research in consumer behavior, food innovation, and sustainability, she explains why consumer acceptance should not be treated as the final step of food innovation, but should instead be considered from the very beginning of the product development process.

The conversation explores the complexity of food choices and the many factors that shape consumer decisions, from familiarity, taste, and price to cultural background, personal values, health, sustainability, and perceptions of safety. The discussion also examines the distinction between consumer acceptance and adoption, and why a technically successful product may nevertheless struggle to become part of everyday life.

Dr. Banovic further discusses emerging technologies such as precision fermentation and alternative proteins, highlighting the importance of familiarity and meaningful benefits when introducing unfamiliar foods. The conversation considers differences across cultures and markets, as well as how the characteristics of particular products can influence consumer responses.

The episode also turns to the circular blue-green bioeconomy and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to transforming food systems. While circularity can create opportunities to reduce waste and make better use of biological resources, the discussion emphasizes that circularity does not automatically mean sustainability. 

Finally, we discuss policy, consumer information, labeling, and research methodologies. Rather than simply seeking to make consumers more accepting, Dr. Banovic argues for creating conditions in which consumers can make informed choices among safe, credible, and genuinely sustainable alternatives. 

Join us as we explore what it takes to move emerging agrifood technologies from laboratories and innovation processes into everyday food practices and why understanding consumers is essential for creating meaningful and sustainable change!

Academic Website of Associate Prof. Dr. Marija Banovic: https://www.au.dk/en/[email protected]/
Website of the Centre for Sustainable Agrifood Systems (START): https://start.uni.dk/

Timeline
(00:00) Intro
(00:24) Academic Background and Research Interests
(03:59) Why Consumer Acceptance Matters?
(06:42) From Technological Innovation to Market Uptake
(08:46) Understanding Consumer Behavior
(10:48) Emerging Agrifood Technologies
(13:47) Consumer Concerns and the Role of Familiarity
(17:07) Consumer Acceptance Across Cultures and Markets
(20:37) The Circular Blue-Green Bioeconomy
(24:35) Environmental Trade-offs and System-Level Thinking
(27:12) Policy and Consumer Acceptance
(30:41) Consumer Information and Product Labeling
(34:22) Research Methods for Understanding Consumer Behavior
(38:31) From Laboratory Experiments to Real-World Consumer Decisions
(41:11) Interdisciplinary Education and the START Summer School
(46:30) Future Projects and Research
(48:43) Outro

Keywords
Consumer Acceptance, Consumer Preferences, Agrifood Technologies, Food Innovation, Consumer Behavior, Food Marketing, Sustainability, Sustainable Food Systems, Precision Fermentation, Alternative Proteins, Novel Foods, Biotechnology, Circular Bioeconomy, Blue-Green Bioeconomy, Consumer Psychology, Food Choice, Food Sustainability, Interdisciplinary Research, Food Policy, Consumer Information, Product Labeling

PD Dr. Max Rohstock and Anna Maria Lambertz-Rohstock (Department of Philosophy, Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)

• How can we cultivate an ideal relationship with ourselves and with others?
• What can Neoplatonic philosophy teach us about truth, freedom, inner harmony, and human flourishing?
• How can philosophical thinking help us navigate existential despair?

In this episode, we explore how philosophical traditions can illuminate our relationships with ourselves and others. PD Dr. Max Rohstock and Anna Maria Lambertz-Rohstock from the Department of Philosophy at Heidelberg University discuss the Neoplatonic tradition, its conception of the absolute, and the idea that philosophical insight can transform how we relate to ourselves and others.

The conversation examines the Platonic understanding of the self as composed of different forms of striving and the importance of bringing them into harmony through truth and wisdom. Our guests explain how absolutizing finite goals such as wealth, power, or recognition can contribute to dissatisfaction and existential despair. They further discuss the concept of absolutizing and the philosophical challenge of relating appropriately to both absolute and relative goals.

The episode also explores negative theology as a method for questioning the ideas and values we treat as absolute. In this context, philosophical thinking is presented as a form of practice that can cultivate self-knowledge, humility, freedom, and resistance to manipulation. The discussion considers how an ideal relationship with oneself may provide the foundation for relating to others with greater openness, empathy, and freedom. Finally, we discuss the initiative “Inspiration Philosophie”, which seeks to make philosophical thinking accessible beyond academia.

Join us as we explore whether philosophy can offer not only ways of understanding reality, but also practical guidance for becoming oneself and relating more meaningfully to others!

Inspiration Philosophie
Philosophy classes: https://linktr.ee/inspiration_philosophie
Newsletter: https://substack.com/@inspirationphilosophy
Research: https://maxrohstock.academia.edu/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiration_philosophie/

Timeline
(00:00) Intro
(02:34) Academic Backgrounds
(07:26) Motivation and the Archimedean Point
(13:40) Neoplatonism and the Absolute
(22:05) The Ideal Relationship with Oneself
(29:34) From Self-Relation to Relations with Others(32:42) Kierkegaard and Absolutizing(38:07) Negative Theology
(42:49) The Historical-Systematic Method
(45:33) Philosophy as a Way of Life
(50:44) Inspiration Philosophie
(55:40) Learning from Public Engagement
(58:49) Future Projects and Plans
(01:02:37) Outro

Keywords
Neoplatonism, Plato, Plotinus, Metaphysics, Ethics, Philosophy, Absolute, Inner Harmony, Self-Realization, Existential Despair, Kierkegaard, Negative Theology, Freedom, Human Flourishing, Philosophical Life, Historical-Systematic Method, Public Philosophy, Inspiration Philosophie, Interdisciplinary Scholarship, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Scholarly Conversations, Interdisciplinary Discussions, Interviews with Scholars, University Discourse, Us and Them, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast, Heidelberg University

Jun.-Prof. Dr. Rosa Lehmann (Heidelberg Center for Ibero American Studies, Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked dimensions of energy transition projects with Jun.-Prof. Dr. Rosa Lehmann, Professor of Innovation and Sustainability in Ibero-America at the Heidelberg Center for Ibero-American Studies (HCIAS), Heidelberg University, where she is also affiliated with the Institute of Geography within the Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences and the Heidelberg Center for the Environment (HCE). In addition, she served as a contributing professor in the 4EU+ Program, Collegio Futuro 2026. Drawing on years of interdisciplinary research, Prof. Lehmann demonstrates that the success of the energy transition depends not only on technological innovation, but also on questions of participation, justice, and governance.

Throughout the conversation, Prof. Lehmann explains the concept of socio-spatial tensions, illustrating how renewable energy projects transform not only landscapes but also the relationships between people, institutions, and places. Drawing on case studies from Latin America, she examines recurring patterns of conflict surrounding renewable energy projects, including competing decision-making processes across political scales, the challenges of ensuring meaningful consultation with local communities, and the difficult balance between the urgent need for climate action and democratic participation.

The discussion further explores how historical experiences, local identities, and longstanding relationships with particular territories shape the ways communities respond to renewable energy development. The episode also examines what constitutes a just energy transition. Prof. Lehmann discusses how different governance models, including community participation and energy cooperatives, can strengthen public acceptance by fostering a greater sense of ownership and inclusion.

In addition, Prof. Lehmann argues that understanding the energy transition requires interdisciplinary collaboration that draws on perspectives from a wide range of disciplines. She concludes by reflecting on the importance of international academic collaboration and discusses how insights gained from Latin American experiences can contribute to ongoing debates on sustainability transitions in Germany and Europe.

Join us in this episode as we explore why the energy transition is not only a technological transformation, but also a profoundly social and democratic process that challenges us to rethink questions of justice and participation!

For Jun.-Prof. Dr. Rosa Lehmann’s Academic Profile: https://www.hcias.uni-heidelberg.de/en/about-us/people-a-z/rosa-lehmann  

Timeline
(00:00) Intro
(00:24) Introducing Jun.-Prof. Dr. Rosa Lehmann and Her Academic Background
(05:42) The Motivation behind Studying Energy Transition and Socio-Spatial Tensions
(08:55) Renewable Energy Case Studies from Latin America
(10:00) Recurring Patterns of Conflict
(16:13) Degraded and Marginal Land
(19:09) Just Energy Transition
(21:50) Community Participation and Public Acceptance
(24:55) What Makes Energy Transitions Projects in Latin America Different?
(26:45) The Importance of Interdisciplinary Research
(29:31) International Academic Collaboration
(32:52) Current Research Projects and Future Directions
(34:12) Outro

Keywords
Energy Transition, Socio-Spatial Tensions, Sustainability, Just Transition, Renewable Energy, Wind Energy, Solar Energy, Green Hydrogen, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, Political Ecology, Human Geography, Community Participation, Public Acceptance, Energy Cooperatives, Democratic Participation, Local Communities, Latin America, Interdisciplinary Research, Interdisciplinary Scholarship, Scholarly Conversations, Interdisciplinary Discussions, Interviews with Scholars, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast, Research Podcast, University Podcast

Prof. Dr. Richard Caplan (University of Oxford) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)

- How has the understanding of state sovereignty and the role of UN peacekeeping operations evolved over time? 
- What is the "Dilemma of Humanitarian Intervention" and how did it pave the way for the development of the Responsibility to Protect doctrine? 
- What are the most pressing challenges currently facing UN peacekeeping, and how can they be overcome?



In this episode, we explore the complex and evolving landscape of international conflict management and UN peacekeeping, together with Prof. Dr. Richard Caplan, Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford, who also delivered the keynote lecture at the HGGS Summer Forum 2025, "Us and Them." Prof. Caplan discusses the historical evolution of humanitarian intervention and raises critical questions about whether the international community’s framework for protecting vulnerable populations has truly lived up to its potential.

Prof. Caplan traces the historical origins of humanitarian intervention, explaining how the UN Charter originally prohibited interference in the domestic affairs of sovereign states. He outlines how the 1992 crisis in Somalia marked a historic turning point, establishing a precedent in which the UN Security Council authorized the use of military force primarily for humanitarian purposes. Moving through subsequent catastrophic events, the discussion highlights the profound "dilemma of humanitarian intervention" articulated by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Prof. Caplan explains how this dilemma ultimately culminated in the global adoption of the Responsibility to Protect norm.

The conversation also examines the structural challenges currently facing the United Nations, particularly the geopolitical interests of the Permanent Five members and the use of the veto power, which frequently prevents the organization fromresponding effectively to major crises. The discussion further explores the future of international peacekeeping in an increasingly fragile global environment characterized by rising nationalism, a retreat from multilateralism, and declining cooperation among the major powers. Prof. Caplan reflects on whether greater reliance on regional organizations could offer a way forward. He weighs the advantages of these organizations, including their long-term regional commitment, against significant challenges, such as limited resources and the risk of advancing localized political interests. 

Join us in this episode as we examine public policy, international law, and the ultimate future of global peacekeeping in an increasingly divided world!

Timeline
(00:00) Intro
(00:24) Introducing Prof. Dr. Richard Caplan and His Academic Background
(03:22) Working at the Interface of Public Policy and Scholarship
(06:03) Historic Turning Point for UN Peacekeeping
(11:55) Historical Shift in the Understanding of State Sovereignty
(13:40) Kofi Annan’s "Dilemma of Humanitarian Intervention"
(18:18) Geopolitics, Unseen Atrocities, and the Structural Limitations of the UN Veto
(24:55) Geopolitical Shifts: Rising Nationalism, and the Value of Peacekeeping
(29:45) Reimagining Peacekeeping: Can We Rely on Regional and Sub-Regional Organizations?
(34:44) Personal Reflections: Oxford and Heidelberg
(35:48) Outro

Keywords
Responsibility to Protect, R2P, United Nations, UN Peacekeeping, International Relations, Conflict Management, Humanitarian Intervention, State Sovereignty, Somalia Intervention, Kofi Annan, Intervention Dilemma, UN Security Council, Veto Power, Mass Atrocities, Regional Organizations, Multilateralism, Geopolitics, University of Oxford, Academic Podcast.

Note: This episode is a republished and revised version of one of our previous episodes, with adjustments made to enhance the sound quality and improve the overall flow of the conversation. Thank you very much for your understanding and continued support.

Alberto Carballo Soca (University of Havana) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)

- How do group dynamics, social identity, and educational inclusion shape our understanding of the “Us and Them” divide?
- How do global inequalities influence access to and research on artificial intelligence?
- What can policymakers and educators do to promote a more inclusive digital future?

In this episode, we explore the intersections of educational psychology, digital education, and artificial intelligence literacy together with Alberto Carballo Soca from the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Havana, who was also one of the presenters at the HGGS Summer Forum 2025, “Us and Them.” Alberto Carballo Soca discusses how the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion that emerge in school groups can help us understand broader social divisions in the digital age and the growing importance of AI literacy in contemporary societies. 

Throughout the episode, we explore how social identities are formed within educational settings and how factors such as skin color,, academic achievement, and personal interests can influence acceptance, rejection, and belonging within groups. Building on these foundations, the discussion turns to the role of education in fostering inclusion and developing the social competencies necessary for participation and cooperation. Alberto Carballo Soca reflects on the importanceof teamwork, empathy, and belonging, arguing that schools play a crucial role in preparing individuals not only for professional life but also for active citizenship in societies.

A central focus of the episode is AI literacy, a rapidly emerging field that seeks to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and critical awareness necessary to engage responsibly with artificial intelligence technologies. Drawing on his bibliometric research, Alberto Carballo Soca discusses how most AI literacy research is currently concentrated in the Global North, creating significant disparities between the Global North, the Global South, and the “Global Desert.”

Finally, the discussion turns to the future of AI literacy and digital education. Alberto Carballo Soca argues that education remains the most important tool for reducing digital inequalities and ensuring that individuals can engage with AI technologies in informed, critical, and responsible ways.

Join us in this episode as we explore how educational psychology, digital education, and AI literacy can help bridge the divide between “us” and “them” and contribute to a more inclusive digital future!

Timeline
(00:00) Intro
(00:24) Introducing Alberto Carballo Soca and His Academic Background
(02:51) From Group Dynamics to AI Literacy: Research Motivation and Academic Journey
(07:26) Research Methods for Studying Group Dynamics in Schools
(09:18) Individual and Collective Perspectives on Inclusion and Cooperation
(12:43) Belonging, Motivation, and Participation in Group Activities
(14:52) The Shift Towards Digital Education
(20:37) Recommendations for Overcoming Challenges in Digital Education
(22:45) Attitudes, Knowledge, and Skills for Using Artificial Intelligence
(26:17) The Global North, the Global South, and the Global Desert in AI Literacy
(29:34) Policy Recommendations for Improving AI Literacy
(31:24) Personal Reflections: Running, Creativity, and Academic Life
(32:57) Outro 

Keywords
AI Literacy, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Education, Educational Psychology, Group Cohesion, Social Identity Theory, Educational Inclusion, Digital Competence, Large Language Models, Global North, Global South, Global Desert, Educational Policy, Interdisciplinary Research, Bibliometric Analysis, Digital Inequality

Note: This episode is a republished and revised version of one of our previous episodes, with adjustments made to enhance the sound quality and improve the overall flow of the conversation. Thank you very much for your understanding and continued support.

Bahar Akgün (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)

- What is the girih mode, and how has it been interpreted?
- How can cognitive science and eye-tracking methods help us understand the experience of Islamic geometric ornament?
- What are the promises and challenges of conducting interdisciplinary research? 

In this episode, we explore how ornaments shape the ways we perceive, navigate, and experience visual environments together with Bahar Akgün from the Islamic Studies Department within the Faculty of Philosophy at Heidelberg University, who was also one of the presenters at the HGGS Summer Forum 2025, “Us and Them.” Her interdisciplinary research examines the girih mode of Islamic geometric ornament through the lenses of Islamic studies, art history, phenomenology, cognitive science, and contemporary architectural design, investigating how geometric patterns can influence perception, contemplation, and embodied experience.

The conversation introduces listeners to the girih mode as a distinctive visual language characterized by interlaced geometric structures, star patterns, and endlessly extendable networks that have shaped the aesthetics of Islamic architecture across centuries. Bahar Akgün explains how current architectural debates increasingly approach ornament not only as a symbolic form, but also as a medium that produces affect, visual resonance, and embodied sensory experience.

A central focus of the episode is Bahar Akgün’s innovative methodological framework, which combines phenomenological introspection, empirical aesthetics, and eye-tracking studies to investigate the “contemplative gaze” associated with girih patterns. We discuss how visual complexity guides perception, how patterns can embed their own “mode of seeing,” and how empirical methods can help bridge historical aesthetic theory with contemporary cognitive research.

The conversation also reflects extensively on the realities of interdisciplinary scholarship. Bahar Akgün shares her experience of navigating multiple academic languages and epistemologies, and conducting research at the intersection of traditionally separate fields. Together, we explore the institutional challenges, and emotional dimensions of interdisciplinary research, and the importance of collaboration, systems thinking, and epistemological pluralism.

Join us in this episode as we explore how Islamic geometric ornament reshapes our understanding of perception, aesthetics, architecture, and interdisciplinary research!

For Bahar Akgün’s Academic Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bahar-Akguen-2
For Bahar Akgün´s HGGS Page: https://www.hggs.uni-heidelberg.de/en/about-us/members/bahar-akgun

Timeline(
00:00) Intro (
00:24) Introducing Bahar Akgün and Her Academic Background
(02:54) Motivation Behind the Research
(05:10) The Modernist Suppression of Ornament and Its Contemporary Re-Emergence
(08:45) Visual Resonance and Representation in Ornament
(12:22) Defining Characteristics of Islamic Geometric Ornament and the Girih Mode
(13:53) Interpretations of Islamic Ornament
(19:34) Visualizing the Girih Mode
(22:52) Developing a Methodological Framework for Analyzing the Girih Mode
(26:42) Interdisciplinary Dimensions of the Research
(30:16) Working with Supervisors from Different Academic Backgrounds
(36:00) Challenges and Rewards of Conducting Interdisciplinary Research
(41:28) Collaboration, Systems Thinking, and Different Forms of Interdisciplinary Research
(47:38) Future Academic Plans
(51:21) Outro

Keywords
Girih Mode, Islamic Ornament, Islamic Art, Islamic Studies, Architecture, Architectural Design, Computational Design, Cognitive Science, Phenomenology, Aesthetics, Eye-Tracking Research, Visual Perception, Contemplative Gaze, Aesthetics, Art History, Interdisciplinary Research, Systems Thinking, Islamic Architecture, Geometric Patterns, Methodology, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast, Scholarly Conversations

Dr. Maximilian Jungmann (Heidelberg Center for the Environment, Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)

- What roles do companies, governments, and individuals play in creating a more sustainable future?
- What distinguishes sustainable innovation from traditional innovation, and why is management crucial to its success?
- How can companies balance economic profitability with social and environmental impact?

In this episode, we explore the concepts of sustainability and sustainable innovation management together with Dr. Maximilian Jungmann, Executive Manager of the Heidelberg Center for the Environment (HCE) at Heidelberg University. Drawing on his interdisciplinary background in political science, sociology, climate change adaptation, and sustainability consulting, Dr. Jungmann reflects on the urgent need to bridge academic knowledge, business practice, and societal transformation in addressing contemporary environmental challenges.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Jungmann explains how sustainability requires long-term thinking that takes future generations, resource limitations, and global interdependencies into account, while also emphasizing the importance of resilience, sufficiency, efficiency, and consistency within organizational and societal structures. 

The episode explores how sustainable innovation differs from conventional innovation approaches by integrating environmental and social responsibility into both the goals and processes of innovation. Dr. Jungmann further elaborates on different forms of innovation, illustrating how technological and organizational change can contribute to more sustainable economic systems.

The conversation also examines the role of sustainable business models and the growing importance of ESG frameworks, regulation, and sustainable entrepreneurship. We discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with the European Green Deal, the role of regulation in shaping innovation, and the tensions between long-term sustainability goals and short-term economic interests. In this context, Dr. Jungmann reflects on how businesses can combine profitability with societal impact and why organizational culture and leadership play a decisive role in successful sustainability transformation processes.

Join us in this episode as we explore how sustainability, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration can contribute to addressing some of the most pressing environmental and societal challenges of our time!

HCE Website: https://www.hce.uni-heidelberg.de
Dr. Jungmann’s Profile: ⁠https://www.mnovum.com/dr-max-jungmann⁠
Website of Momentum Novum: https://www.mnovum.com/
Website of Falk Momentum: https://www.falk-momentum.com/%C3%BCber-uns

Timeline
(00:00) Intro
(00:24) Introducing Dr. Jungmann
(03:56) Research on Sustainability and Sustainable Innovation Management
(08:16) What Does Sustainability Mean?
(11:20) The Need for Transformation toward a Sustainable Future
(13:57) Current Level of Progress in Sustainability
(17:33) Regulation, Innovation, and the EU Green Deal
#(24:03) Sustainable Innovation Management
(26:32) Forms of Sustainable Innovation
(29:47) Sustainable Business Models
(32:29) Competitive Advantages of Sustainable Business Models
(34:56) Sufficiency-Driven Business Models
(36:37) Organizational Culture and Sustainability Transformation
(39:40) Sustainable Startups
(44:47) International Climate Cooperation
(47:12) The Mission of the HCE
(49:32) Outro

Keywords
Sustainability, Sustainable Innovation Management, ESG Compliance, Sustainable Business Models, Innovation, Innovation Management, Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Green Deal, Climate Change, Sustainable Startups, Sustainability Consulting, Climate Policy, Sustainability Reporting, Corporate Responsibility, Interdisciplinary Research, Environmental Studies, Political Science, Heidelberg Center for the Environment, Heidelberg University, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast

Tetyana Kasima (University of Tartu) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)

- How do literature and urban spaces shape one another?
- What are “heterotopic moments of being,” and how can they help us understand city life?
- How do literary texts reimagine questions of identity, visibility, and coexistence in urban environments?

As human beings, we are all embedded in time and space, but how does the space we inhabit shape our perspectives and experiences? In this episode, we explore this question through the lens of literary urban studies together with Tetyana Kasima from the University of Tartu, who was also one of the presenters at the HGGS Summer Forum 2025, “Us and Them.”

Drawing on her research into Clarice Lispector’s The Besieged City, Virginia Woolf’s Solid Objects, and the works of Jhumpa Lahiri, Tetyana Kasima introduces the concept of “magical urbanism” and examines how literature reflects and reimagines urban life. Combining Michel Foucault’s notion of “heterotopias” with Virginia Woolf’s idea of “moments of being,” she develops the interdisciplinary framework of “heterotopic moments of being” to investigate the relationship between urban environments and human experience in literary texts.

Throughout the conversation, we discuss how cities are shaped by contradictions, hybridity, and coexistence, and how literature allows us to pause and reflect on the spaces we inhabit in everyday life. The episode further explores questions of visibility and anonymity in the city, the role of urban porosity, and the ways in which diverse identities and cultures merge within shared urban environments. In addition, Tetyana Kasima reflects on the methodological challenges of combining literary analysis with other artistic mediums, such as painting, through her discussion of Giorgio de Chirico’s artwork and its connection to Clarice Lispector’s fiction.

The discussion also touches upon the emotional and experiential dimensions of city life, examining how walking, memory, architecture, and storytelling contribute to our understanding of urban spaces. From Vienna and Paris to fictional cityscapes in literature, the episode highlights how cities can become spaces of imagination, transformation, and interdisciplinary reflection.

Join us in this episode as we explore how literature reshapes our understanding of the cities we live in and reveals the hidden layers of urban experience!

Timeline
(00:00) Intro
(00:24) Introducing Tetyana Kasima and Her Academic Background
(01:48) Literary Urban Studies and the Motivation Behind the Research
(03:50) Heterotopic Moments of Being: Foucault and Virginia Woolf
(06:41) Moments of Being and Non-Being in Literary Urbanism
(08:26) What Is a City? Perspective and Urban Experience
(10:53) Magical Urbanism, Contradictions, and “Us and Them”
(15:08) Visibility and Anonymity in a City
(16:54) Combining Literature and Visual Art in Research
(20:23) Personal Reflection: Magical Cities and Urban Experiences
(21:45) Experiencing Cities Through the Eyes of a Researcher
(23:44) Outro

Keywords
Literary Urban Studies, Magical Urbanism, Urban Studies, Comparative Literature, Michel Foucault, Heterotopia, Heterotopic Moments of Being, Virginia Woolf, Clarice Lispector, Jhumpa Lahiri, Giorgio de Chirico, Urban Porosity, City Life, Urban Experience, Literature and Space, Interdisciplinary Research, Cultural Studies, Identity Politics, Hybrid Cultures, Visibility and Anonymity, Walking in the City, Flâneur, Literary Theory, Philosophy and Literature, Urban Culture, Interdisciplinary Discussions, Interviews with Scholars, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast, HGGS, Heidelberg University, University of Tartu

Note: This episode is a republished and revised version of one of our previous episodes, with adjustments made to enhance the sound quality and improve the overall flow of the conversation. Thank you very much for your understanding and continued support.

Antoni Lukasik (Warsaw University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)

- What are the limits of understanding within the framework of language in political contexts?
- How does Ludwig Wittgenstein’s philosophy reshape our understanding of language and communication?
- Can interdisciplinary and empirical approaches improve political communication, particularly in climate policy?

In this episode, Antoni Łukasik, researcher from the Department of Philosophy at Warsaw University and participant in the 4EU+ Program Collegio Futuro 2026, takes us on an interdisciplinary journey through the complex relationship between language, understanding, and political communication. Starting from the idea, famously expressed by Antoine deSaint-Exupéry, that “language is a source of misunderstanding,” the conversation explores how linguistic structures shape not only communication but also perception and public discourse.

Drawing on the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Antoni Łukasik introduces a shift from viewing language as a mirror of reality to understanding it as a tool for interaction, emphasizing how meaning emerges through use, context, and social exchange. Building on this philosophical foundation, the episode examines the limitations of classical models of political deliberation, highlighting empirical findings that challenge the assumption that rational argument alone leads to consensus. Instead, the discussion turns to holistic and discursive processes that shape public opinion.

The discussion further explores the concept of vernacularization and highlights a striking reverse dynamic example in which indigenous knowledge systems in Ecuador have influenced formal political and legal structures from the bottom up. By combining philosophical inquiry with empirical methods such as qualitative fieldwork, this episode sheds light on the challenges of communicating across paradigms, cultures, and disciplines. It also raises fundamental questions about whether universal models of communication are possible or whether we must instead embrace plurality, uncertainty, and contextual understanding.

Join us as we explore the boundaries of language, the challenges of political communication, and the possibilities of interdisciplinary approaches for fostering clearer dialogue in an increasingly complex world!

Timeline
(00:00) Intro
(00:24) Introducing Antoni Łukasik and His Academic Background
(05:53) Ludwig Wittgenstein and the Philosophy of Language
(17:03) Communication Models and Discursive Processes
(22:54) Research Design and Case Selection: Climate Policy and Competing Worldviews
(28:32) Vernacularization and Knowledge Transfer
(31:05) Fieldwork Reflections and Methodological Challenges
(34:31) Scientific Methodology
(38:58) Hypotheses, Falsification, and Scientific Inquiry
(42:39) Personal Reflection: Interdisciplinary Research and Collegio Futuro
(45:18) Personal Reflection: Future Research Plans
(47:36) Outro

Keywords
Language, Political Communication, Climate Policy, Philosophy, Philosophy of Language, Empirical Philosophy, Environmental Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Ecuador, Public Discourse, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Karl Popper, Thomas Kuhn, Understanding, Social Representation, Empirical Methods, Vernacularization, Qualitative Fieldwork, Critical Discourse Analysis, Contextual Analysis, Interdisciplinary Research, Interdisciplinary Scholarship, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Scholarly Conversations, Interdisciplinary Discussions, Interviews with Scholars, University Discourse, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast, Research Podcast, University Podcast, Heidelberg University, University of Warsaw, Collegio Futuro

Elizaveta Savina (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) - What are the fundamental differences between first and second language acquisition? - How do implicit and explicit learning processes shape language learning outcomes? - What role does structural priming play in second language acquisition? In this episode, Elizaveta Savina, PhD Student from the Heidelberg University Language and Cognition Lab (HULC) at the Institute of German as a Foreign Philology, introduces us to the complex and fascinating dynamics of first and second language acquisition from the perspectives of psycholinguistics and cognitive science. Drawing on her research, Elizaveta Savina explores how cognitive mechanisms operate behind the scenes during language acquisition, emphasizing the roles of implicit and explicit learning processes. Within this framework, she highlights the concept of structural priming as a key mechanism that enables learners to internalize grammatical structures through repeated exposure, thereby facilitating fluency and comprehension. The conversation further sheds light on empirical methods such as eye-tracking in the visual world paradigm, offering insights into how researchers investigate real-time language processing and learning. Join us as we explore the cognitive foundations of language learning, the challenges and opportunities of acquiring a second language, and what these insights reveal about human cognition and communication more broadly! For Elizaveta Savina’s current study:Flyer: https://heibox.uni-heidelberg.de/f/f4b6ed8cb083462986a5/Appointment Calendar: https://koalendar.com/e/studie-eye-tracking-idf Heidelberg University Language and Cognition Lab (HULC):https://www.hulclab.eu/research/ Timeline (00:00) Intro (00:24) Introducing Elizaveta Savina and Her Academic Background (03:01) Motivation Behind the Research Topic Theoretical Implications (05:41) Differences Between First and Second Language Acquisition (08:40) Implicit vs. Explicit Learning (11:28) Implicit Learning in Cognitive Science (12:41) Acquisition vs. Learning (15:19) Structural Priming Explained (18:19) Structural Priming and Predictive Coding Theory (24:54) Learning during Sleep? Methodological Insights in Psycholinguistic Research (27:42) Research Hypotheses (29:21) Sciences of Cognition and Language (32:50) Eye-Tracking and the Visual World Paradigm (35:42) Requirements of Psycholinguistic Research (37:51) Interdisciplinary Perspectives of Cognitive Science at Heidelberg University (40:03) Practical Implications for Researching German Learners (44:16) Challenges of Learning German Grammar (47:08) Structural Priming State of Art and Novelty Personal Perspectives (49:41) Personal Reflections on Language Learning (51:12) Advantages of Early and Late Language Learning (55:26) Further Language Learning Plans (58:15) Outro  Keywords Language Learning, Language Acquisition, Psycholinguistics, Cognitive Science, Second Language Acquisition, First Language Acquisition, Language Journey, Structural Priming, Implicit Learning, Explicit Learning, Eye Tracking, Linguistics, HULC, Interdisciplinary Research, Interdisciplinary Scholarship, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Scholarly Conversations, Interdisciplinary Discussions, Interviews with Scholars, University Discourse, Us and Them, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast, Research Podcast, University Podcast, Heidelberg University