HGGS - Us and Them

Prof. Dr. Andreas Freytag (Friedrich Schiller University Jena) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) - What role does the G7 play within the broader framework of global governance? - How does the informal structure of the G7 shape international cooperation and policy-making? - What challenges does the G7 face in an evolving multipolar world? In this episode, Prof. Dr. Andreas Freytag from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Chair of Economic Policy at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena guides us through the complex dynamics of global governance and introduces his recent book “The Elgar Companion to the G7: 5...

Dr. Maureen McGowan, (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) - How can peer referral strategies enhance HIV testing and prevention efforts?- What challenges arise when aligning public health research, policy, and local cultural contexts?- What role does qualitative research play in understanding and addressing both local and global challenges? In this episode, Dr. Maureen McGowan from the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health at Heidelberg University introduces us to the complex and multifaceted challenges of HIV prevention in sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing on her research, Dr. McGowan elaborates on how gender dynamics and structural inequalities shape vul...

Dr. Radmila Mladenova (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) - Which stereotypical metanarratives have historically dominated films depicting the Roma community?- How does the contrast between light and darkness function within the visual language of films portraying the Roma community?- How can we critically approach films that depict the Roma community through stereotypical representations? In this episode, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Radmila Mladenova from the Heidelberg Research Centre on Antigypsyism at Heidelberg University, who joins us to discuss the portrayal of Roma community in film and the broader implications of cinematic storytelling. Our...

Dr. Federico Zilia (University of Milan) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)-       What role can the circular economy approach play in addressing current environmental challenges?-       How can we distinguish “green innovations” from conventional innovations in the context of increasing concerns about greenwashing?-       In what ways do weather shocks affect the economy of a region? In our twentieth episode, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Federico Zilia from the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Milan and a contributing professor in the 4EU+ Program, Collegio Futuro: Interdisciplinary College for Doctoral Students 2026, who guides us through the int...

Selin Beyhan (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) - What coping strategies do characters in post-apocalyptic novels use to deal with the challenges of post-apocalyptic settings?- What emotions do fictional characters display during periods of transition?- What can we learn from characters in post-apocalyptic narratives? In this episode, we are delighted to welcome Selin Beyhan from the Department of English Studies at Heidelberg University, to discuss her research on post-apocalyptic fiction, with a particular focus on individual emotions and coping strategies during times of transition. Selin reflects on her academic journey and highlights the time...

Dr. Philipp Zehmisch (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) - How did the partition between Indiaand Pakistan shape the ambivalent enmity between these cultures?- What forms of cultural resilience have developed along the border between India and Pakistan?- How should we approach and make sense of the sensitive issue of “cross-border ethics,” and what key considerations should guide our understanding of it? In this episode, Dr. Philipp Zehmisch from the Department of Anthropology at the South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, invites us into his research on ambivalent amnesty in bordering processes, with a particular focus o...

Dr. Martin Hofmann (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) In the first episode of the year 2026, Dr. Martin Hofmann from the Department of Intellectual History at the Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural Studies, Heidelberg University, introduces the fields of transcultural studies and intellectual history and explains how these disciplines help us understand cultural perceptions. Dr. Hofmann elaborates on how maps function as a medium for conveying knowledge and how they mirror the epistemic ideals of different cultures. He also touches on the special features of these maps, the “imaginary creatures,” and the role they play in how culture...

Isabell Eiwan (Faculty of Law, Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)
- What are the possible use cases for AI in criminal proceedings?- What are the limitations of AI indetermining human intentions in criminal proceedings?- What might the use of AI in criminal proceedings imply for human rights?
In this episode, Isabell Eiwan from the Faculty of Law at Heidelberg University and a participant in the Marsilius-Kolleg Summer School 2025 “AI and Human Values,” discusses the intersection of AI and criminal responsibility. Together, we explore what the use of AI in legal proceedings could m...

Prof. Dr. Connie Hoe and Ezgi Baltacı (German Cancer Research Center) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)
-  What should be understood by the concept of “citizen science,” and what distinguishes citizen science from other scientific approaches? -  Why is it important to include the public in the scientific research process?-  What insights does the mapping of tobacco and alcohol retail provide within the framework of public health research?
In this episode, Professor Dr. Connie Hoe and researcher Ezgi Baltacı from the Division of Policy and Implementation Research for Cancer Prevention at the German Cancer Research Cent...

Alexandre Bretel (Grenoble Alpes University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)
- What makes AI ethics distinct from other areas of ethics?- What is required for the “responsible” use of AI?- How can the philosophies of Hans Jonas, GüntherAnders, and Hannah Arendt provide guidance in addressing the challenges of AI?
In this episode, Alexandre Bretel from the Grenoble Alpes University and participant in the Marsilius-Kolleg Summer School 2025 “AI and Human Values” joins us to explore the intersection of AI ethics and responsibility through the perspectives of Hans Jonas, Günther Anders, and Hannah Arendt. Toget...

PD Dr. Johannes Gerwien (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)
What are the functions of “inner speech” within the framework of cognitive science?What role does the linguistic relativism theory play in inner speech and the thinking process?Is language-free cognition even possible?
In this episode, PD Dr. Johannes Gerwien discusses the intricate relationship between language, thought, and cognition. He explores various aspects of language production, including inner speech, self-monitoring, executive control, and the nature of language encoding. The conversation delves into linguistic relativity theory, the impact of language acquisition on cognitive processes, and the cha...

Maximilian Kathan (Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) What is the impact of nationalism and antisemitism in the late Habsburg Monarchy?How did Karl Emil Franzos and Nathan Birnbaum contribute to the (re)construction of Jewish identity?What roles do language and literature play in defining national identity? In this episode, Maximilian Kathan from Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies discusses his research on Jewish identity constructions within the Habsburg Monarchy, focusing on the interplay of history, literature, and Jewish studies. He explores the impact of nationalism and antisemitism in the late 19th and early...

Nadja Samira Fraenkel (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) How does the travel motif shape narratives in third-generation Jewish literature? What are the differences between physical and metaphorical journeys? Can language serve as a space for belonging and identity?In this conversation, Nadja Samira Fraenkel from Heidelberg University discusses her PhD research on comparative perspectives of literary travel motifs in contemporary Jewish literature from Germany, Israel, and the USA. She explores the complexities of identity, the role of travel in shaping experiences, and the search for belonging and utopia within these narratives. The discussion also highlights the...

Conversation with Vanessa Márquez Vargas, Debby Avendaño Sánchez, and Adrián Navia Segovia (University of Los Andes, Venezuela)
Language of the Episode: Spanish

In this episode, Vanessa Márquez Vargas, Debby Avendaño Sánchez, and Adrián Navia Segovia, all from the University of Los Andes, Venezuela, present a hybrid theme combining text and image, with the goal of showing, from their perspective and experiences, how objects, walls, absences, and design shape social and spatial realities. For this, the cultural, urban, and architectural dimensions of belonging have been taken into consideration in order to foste...