For the first time, a digital map provides a collection of information from all over the world on the subject of torture and physical abuse. According to the grim findings, torture exists in almost every country in the world. On the other hand, there are also research projects and initiatives seeking to prevent excessive violence. […] Continue reading “Addressing a painful subject”
Can information and communication technologies help maintain close ties in families who are scattered around the world as a result of (forced) migration? Vienna-based social anthropologist Monika Palmberger explores the role played by new media in this context and the way they might transform these relationships. Continue reading “Making analogue connections by digital media”
What is the attraction of far-right organisations to middle class centrists? Social anthropologist Agnieszka Pasieka observes activists up close to investigate how far right-wing extremist groups are making inroads into the centre of society through social engagement. Pasieka’s analyses diverge from traditional narratives of exclusion and losers. Continue reading “The appeal of the right-wing scene”
When the UK colonies became independent, many British civil servants stayed on in their respective countries as advisers. Development economist Valentin Seidler has created a unique collection of data on the colonial officials of the time. He intends to identify the qualities and skills that make someone a good development aid worker. Continue reading “New lessons from the “cradle of development cooperation””
Developing a medical indication is an everyday process but still lacks a precise definition. In clinical practice, the process is informed by medical expertise and the condition of the individual to be treated. According to the results of a medical-ethical research project, it is also a communicative instrument designed to support – and not patronise […] Continue reading “From findings to therapy: why doctor-patient talk is central”
Being able to grow old and die in one’s own home is something people want, including those who live alone. Behind the life situation of the latter one finds many different relationship constellations and support networks. As soon as their need for help and care becomes more pronounced, non-kin carers such as friends or neighbours […] Continue reading “Robust networks that persist into old age”
In the USA, the most common cause of death among people under 50 is an opioid overdose, an epidemic that affects all social classes. New York City has 15 years of experience with a prevention programme. The success factors of this programme are the research topic of Laura Brandt, a psychologist at the University of […] Continue reading “Nasal spray against drug death”
In October 2020, Carinthia will celebrate the centenary of the plebiscite deciding whether Lower Carinthia should remain part of Austria. For the same amount of time, this event has served as a reference point for discourse and assimilation endeavours. In a transdisciplinary project combining theatre and science, researchers are seeking new leverage on the burden […] Continue reading “One hundred years of Carinthian plebiscite”
If the media are to fulfil their societal remit, they must not lose sight of both political and societal developments. In respect of catering to the needs of the general public, the media in Austria are found wanting. Current research reveals a large gap between media output and what the general public considers relevant. Continue reading “Getting closer to the public”
A research project devoted to the Polish city of Lublin shows how odours and the way they are perceived provide new insights into everyday history and beyond. Social and political change is often, quite literally, “in the air”. Continue reading “How a smell may evolve into a stink”