Interdisciplinary conference in Regensburg: Focus on the future of area studies

Interdisciplinary conference in Regensburg: Focus on the future of area studies

The international conference “Sorting and Ordering: Area Studies in the Contemporary World” took place on May 15 and 16, 2025 at the University of Regensburg. The meeting was organized by Department for Interdisciplinary and Multiscalar Area Studies (DIMAS), which was founded in 2021 and is the successor to the former Center for International and Transnational Area Studies (CITAS). The aim of this conference was to highlight and emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary area studies in times of crisis.

DIMAS brings together researchers from various disciplines who investigate cultural, social, political and legal processes. The multi-scalar approach, which combines local dynamics with global interrelationships, is noteworthy. DIMAS has moved into new premises at Bajuwarenstraße 4 and currently employs six professors. The last professorship on transregional religious history was held by Prof. Dr. Laura Lieber cast.

Important contributions and lectures

The university president Prof. Dr. Udo Hebel emphasized the central role of DIMAS in the strategic profile building of the university. During the conference, new regulatory mechanisms in global change were discussed. Prof. Dr. Timothy Nunan, a prominent speaker, spoke about the challenges posed by revisionist powers and authoritarian movements.

The first day of the event featured workshops, short videos and discussions open to the public. The second day was reserved for a scientific retreat by the Regensburg research community. A highlight of the conference was the keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Susan Hodgett from the University of East Anglia. Her plea for greater exchange and questioning of academic boundaries was met with great interest.

Interdisciplinarity and international visibility

The roundtable discussion brought together leading representatives of the field to discuss the role of area studies in the current global upheaval. The conference also highlighted significant changes in the areas of the environment, media, international law and knowledge production. DIMAS shows how classic regional studies can be successfully combined with modern topics such as digital media, gender and post-colonialism.

At the same time, German scientists, research institutes and foundations are focusing on post-colonial academic exchange, as in CrossArea is promoted. The “Point Sud Program”, which was launched in 2009 by the Goethe University Frankfurt/Main and the German Research Foundation, supports Africa-related workshops and conferences and encourages collaboration between German and African researchers.

The program is open to all researchers on African topics based in Germany, and the selection of activities is made by a program committee led by Prof. Mamadou Diawara. Interdisciplinary collaborations are particularly welcomed, while innovative approaches and the involvement of young scientists in the application are essential criteria.

The developments at the University of Regensburg and the ongoing projects such as the “Point Sud Program” demonstrate the dynamics and influence of interdisciplinary research approaches in a rapidly changing world. DIMAS thus contributes to strengthening the international visibility of the University of Regensburg and provides important impetus for strategic scientific alliances.