International conference in Regensburg: Culture and law in focus!

International conference in Regensburg: Culture and law in focus!

The international conference “Navigating Epistemic, Cultural, and Legal Translations: Processes, Hierarchies, Spaces” will take place at the University of Regensburg from April 23rd to 25th, 2025, which is organized by the Regensburg Leibniz Science Campus (LWC), in collaboration with the University of Regensburg and the Regensburg Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Research (IOS). This conference represents a significant step, especially as it marks the conclusion of the first funding phase (2019-2025) of the LWC and heralds the beginning of the second phase (2024-2028) of the Leibniz Association. The aim of the conference is to examine the complex processes of interpreting and adapting knowledge, culture and legal concepts across different languages ​​and societies uni-regensburg.de reported.

The conference will be led by Professor Dr. Anne Brüske and Professor Dr. Cindy Wittke organizes and offers a forum for discussions about the role of power structures and historical legacy in the translation process. Professor Dr. Ulf Brunnbauer, who heads the LWC and the IOS, emphasizes the importance of the Regensburg campus for area studies.

Diverse topics and prize winners

At the opening of the conference, the Regensburg Area Studies Prizes 2025 will also be awarded, with the following awards:

• Erster Preis (400 Euro): Marie-Christin Dotzler für ihre Masterarbeit über migrationsbedingte Mehrsprachigkeit.
• Zwei zweite Preise (jeweils 200 Euro): Ivana Dinić und Lisa-Marie Holmer für ihre Abschlussarbeiten.

The first panel discussion will address the topic “Area Studies as the Art and Science of Translation” and will focus on avant-garde movements and feminist activism in various contexts. These discussions are part of a broader trend that highlights transregional connections in different regions and addresses challenges in the current scientific landscape.

Context of regional studies

The region and societies are increasingly intertwined politically, economically and culturally. These interconnections are being examined in the regional studies that have been funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) since September 24, 2019. This research aims to disseminate scientific knowledge not only in academia, but also to reach a broader public by using various transfer formats, such as humanities-and-social sciences-bmbf.de described in detail.

The projects that are funded range from the analysis of digitalization in Nigeria and South Korea to the investigation of narratives in Central Eastern/Eastern Europe. Notable funding also includes the “Re-Act” project at the University of Leipzig, which deals with conflicts over the rule of law in East Central Europe.

Transregional studies and their significance

The transregional studies respond to the challenges arising from globalization and digital networking. These studies are necessary to overcome the often nation-state and Eurocentric perspectives of traditional social and cultural sciences. The transregional approach looks at exchange relationships and interconnections and promotes the analysis of cross-societal structures. The Berlin Forum Transregional Studies, founded in 2009, plays a central role in networking international research perspectives and promoting discussions about transregional research, such as forum-transregionale-studien.de clarified.

Overall, the upcoming conference at the University of Regensburg not only shows the importance of transregional and interdisciplinary perspectives in the sciences, but also offers a space for the exchange of ideas and research that addresses essential questions about power, translation and cultural exchange.