Science Festival: Exciting events at the Viadrina!

Science Festival: Exciting events at the Viadrina!

On April 30, 2025, the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) is organizing a series of events focusing on society, culture and research. This is happening in the context of ongoing social interest in Ukraine, especially in times of changing geopolitical conditions.

One of the most important dates is the lecture by Prof. Dr. Andrea Gawrich on EU integration from the perspective of the Eastern Partnership. The lecture will take place on Monday, May 5th at 6:00 p.m. in the Gräfin Dönhoff building. Prof. Dr. Gawrich will discuss how Ukraine is shaping its path to the EU, highlighting the prospects and challenges associated with rapprochement with the EU. On Tuesday, May 6th, there will be a research colloquium with Malte Wittmaack, who will focus on body representations in early modern travelogues.

Current discussions and cultural events

Another highlight is a panel discussion on digital hate and disinformation on Wednesday, May 7th. Overall, several experts, including Friederike Raiser and Judith Höllmann, will share their insights on current topics. For those interested in sports, a fundraising run will be organized on the same day, which encourages students to take part.

In addition to these events, the university hosts various workshops, including one on applications for cultural projects, and shows cultural contributions such as a reading by Tanya Raab about Jewish life. A film event with the neo-Western “Guns & Moses” will also take place on Thursday, May 8th.

Research on Ukraine and international perspectives

Parallel to the events at Viadrina, ZOiS (Center for Eastern European and International Studies) is launching the first online lecture series on social science research about Ukraine. The series begins with the German academic summer semester and is open to anyone interested. Gwendolyn Sasse from Humboldt University of Berlin leads this lecture series, which aims to address widespread misconceptions about Ukrainian society and politics.

The lecture series brings together international social scientists who have empirical data and have examined Ukraine and its challenges in detail. Some of the topics covered include the effects of war and long-term social and political trends, often considered a niche topic in the social sciences.

Overall, the current focus on Ukraine both at the European University Viadrina and in the ZOiS lecture series shows how important and necessary a deeper understanding of Ukrainian society is. European University Viadrina and ZOIS offer valuable insights here.

For a comprehensive overview of all events and programs, please visit the European University website at www.europa-uni.de/events.