Research Groups at the University of Bremen

Today, media communication plays a central role in individuals' lifeworlds: Different areas of life such as work, leisure, socialization, the public and so on depend to a large extent on media communication. Starting from there, the research group analyzes how changes in media communication influence socioeconomic and cultural change, focusing not only on contemporary media communication but also taking a historical perspective. Mediatization is understood here not simply as a unidirectional effect of media (technology) on society but rather as a process of mutual influence, from media communication to society and culture and vice versa. Consequently, the group takes an interdisciplinary approach, including expertise from media and communication research, historical journalism, cultural history, computer science, educational and religious studies. More

In this area, linguists from different backgrounds are conducting joint research on issues surrounding language contact and language comparisons. In four separate branches ― areal linguistics, colonial linguistics, contact linguistics and typology ― they are researching in a broad perspective the impact of language contact on areas of different linguistically relevant disciplines. The objective is to develop an interdisciplinary perspective on the phenomena and explanatory patterns of the respective subareas. A network of young researchers is being separately funded.

The social integration of elderly, invalid, chronically ill, "incapacitated" persons is a recurring theme in the current debate surrounding our present and future social system. The "Homo debilis" profile network examines these discussions within an interdisciplinary context of history, archaeology, anthropology, German studies and art history, lending the topic an historical perspective. By placing a focus on "homines debiles" it is possible to shed light on many fundamental social, cultural and religious issues ― and hence, in the sense of historical cultural science, on the social and cultural whole. Such an approach underscores the importance of reflecting modern-day concepts of health science, medicine, care, solidarity and self-determination in front of the backdrop of historical modes of behavior. More

This research group is concerned with the governance of transnational enterprises. Enterprises with transnational operations can act largely independent of national states and are therefore in a strong position to internationally negotiate favorable local conditions. This gives rise to the image of “footloose corporations” which endeavor to evade their social obligations. In this situation and due to the national character of national legislation, the state lacks the necessary regulatory framework to counteract such behavior and is virtually helpless. Via cooperation structures, transnational enterprises also create spheres of influence that stretch far beyond the formal corporate boundaries. Until now, this aspect has been little researched. More

This research group shares an integrated perspective of migration research: Migration decisions in the life course of individuals and households are examined in front of a backdrop of structural opportunities and constraints. At the same time, the effects of migration decisions on the structural contexts are examined while taking into account the changed shaping potentials and competencies on the part of migrants. Due to its interdisciplinary orientation, the research group is able to grasp the complexity of the multi-level process of migration. It bundles the researchers working in this thematic area under a common thematic umbrella. More

Neurotechnology is being established internationally as a strongly interdisciplinary field. The combination of completely new technological possibilities opened up by computer science, mechatronics (robotics), microsystems technology, microelectronics and high-frequency technology with new findings in the systemic neurosciences are leading to innovative approaches for finding solutions for the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of chronic age-related disturbances of the brain function. In this research area, engineers together with physicists and neuroscientists are researching new techniques for a medically sound neuroelectronical interface that can be used in diagnostics, therapy, and neuroprothetics. In order to achieve this it is necessary to improve methods of encompassing and processing neuronal signals. The project is being initially funded for a three-year period by the University’s Central research Support Unit.

The task of political bodies is to reach decisions and to implement them as binding commitments. This profile project investigates how such decisions are reached in political committees and how to explain why any one particular option is chosen ahead of another. By studying decision processes in committees under laboratory conditions, the researchers endeavor to analytically isolate and identify certain mechanisms of collective decision-making. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with researchers from Bremen University, the University of Oldenburg, and Jacobs University Bremen. It is being funded as a profile project by the joint NOWETAS Foundations of the above-mentioned universities.