Our Story
The ReDICo Centre emerged from the ReDICo project (“Researching Digital Interculturality Co-operatively”) – a joint project of the universities of Jena, Mainz and Potsdam. It was financed from November 2020 until October 2025 by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) retaining both research and strategic goals. The scientific examination of intercultural practices and discourses within digital spaces and their influence upon issues such as identities, group social cohesion and cultural change remains at the heart of the Centre. Coupled with this is the strategic aim of strengthening Intercultural Communication as an academic subject with a positive social influence, at both national and transnational levels, while also further establishing and consolidating theoretical and applied research under the heading of “Digital Interculturality Studies”.
Towards Digital Interculturality
Past projects:
Study A: Digital Cosmopolitan Europeanism
(Fergal Lenehan and Roman Lietz: November 2020-April 2022)
Taking the grass-roots activists of influencers and non-governmental organisations at its centre, this project examines Europeanist cosmopolitan discourses on the social media platform Twitter, drawing on hermeneutic and qualitative interview methodologies.
This project is guided by a curiosity concerning Cosmopolitanism and ‘the Cosmopolitan’ within virtual spaces and their influence upon the material world.
Study B: Intercultural Competence and Communicative Practices within International Cooperation in Virtual Contexts
(Luisa Conti and Milene Mendes de Oliveira: November 2020-April 2022)
This study analyses on-line interaction conducted by people with different first languages and from different national contexts, within the online simulation game Mega Cities.
What factors influence the development of a team culture? What role does power play? What factors foster/challenge successful virtual communication and collaboration? These are some of the many questions our data will allow us to investigate.
Study C: (Neo-Nationalist?) Counter Public Spheres in the Comments Sections of British and German Online News Websites
(Luisa Conti and Fergal Lenehan: May 2022-October 2023)
Online reader forums and comment sections are examined here in relation to (in)coherence and ‘othering’ processes.
Methodologically looking to explore new ground within the realm of Netnography, the project asks whether a counter public sphere is actually in evidence here.
Study D: The Use and Influence of Digital Media for Social Cohesion in Diaspora Communities.
(Milene Mendes de Oliveira, Roman Lietz & Anna Finzel: May 2022-October 2023)
Online communication plays a major role for immigrants and their affiliation within diaspora communities. This study explores the impact of social media upon migrants’ identities and feelings of belonging. We investigate how their online communicative actions influence – and are influenced by – their social cohesion in this new context.
ReDICo Hub
Join our community! The ReDICo Hub is an online community open to scholars, people drawn from practical fields and policy-makers interested in the intersection of intercultural communication and the digital world. It is – and will remain – completely free-of-charge. The hub is dedicated to sharing, by facilitating knowledge exchange and creating new connections.
Former team members
Lymor Wolf Goldstein
Human rights lawyer and researcher. Master’s in Cognitive Studies of Language, with a taste for Babylonian confusion.
Carmen Pereyra
Latin researcher living in Leipzig. Avid reader and knitter. Political Sciences and whiskers on kittens, Anthropology and warm wollen mittens, racism and hate tied up with strings, these are a few of my favorite things. If I can’t dance I don’t want to be in your revolution.
Hong Van Nguyen
Idealist and realist. Passionate for anti-racist, systemic change and action-orientated thinking. On her way to becoming an expert in individual and organisational change and growth.
Hannah Wiese
Educational scientist, constantly in motion. Always interested to dive into topics related to learning processes and their intended influence. Always curious to be surprised by new views of the world. Inspired and motivated by postcolonial thinking.
Annika Schlimm
Trying to make her reading habit and museum visits into a living. With a special interest in the broader cultural and communicative implications of literature, art and language. Mostly spending time on crossword puzzles and lurking on twitter.com.
Sören Schöbel
Researcher from the village. Sociology and figures. Metaphors and stuff. Sometimes, thinks only communication can communicate. Usually looking for things and finding words.
Alina Jugenheimer
Trained feminist. Discusses right-wing discourses online, and offline. Research focus: antifeminism and nationalism on the net. Coffee and book addict.
Julia Baur
Passion for cultures and languages. As a Master’s student of Translation, deeply rooted in intercultural dialogue. Stephen King enthusiast. Emotionally attached to home with wanderlust. Collector of memories, experiences, and anything that doesn’t fight back.
Benedetta Furlan
Master’s student of Translation. Curious about cultures and languages. Fond of travelling. Yoga and meditation.
Magdalena Loska
Raised bilingually. Cosmopolitan. Travel enthusiast. Master’s student of Translation. Affinity for languages and literature. Tatra Mountains and pierogi. Jerusalem and hummus. Free spirit.
Natascha Strobl
she/her, studies English in Germersheim (FTSK), “Whoever conforms to the norm can be under the illusion that it does not exist.” (Carolin Emcke)
Chantal Wywiol
Intercultural heart. Kluski, Fromage and Bier lover. Travel enthusiast. Masterstudent. Literature&Art. Inspired by the 2Ks-Klimt&Kahlo. Always smiling. Simmer. Sunflowers and alpacas are my companions.
Anna Finzel
Sociolinguist, has done research on language, gender and sexuality and on cultural conceptualisations in varieties of English. Likes to dive into new cultural contexts and fancies useless fun facts. Is convinced that fun facts, too, are useful. Passionate disc golfer.
Read more about Anna
Anna Finzel studied English/American and Spanish studies at the University of Potsdam, where she also acquired her PhD at the chair of development and variation of the English language. Study and research stays led her to England, Argentina, Hong Kong, Nigeria and India. Anna’s publications include works on cultural models and conceptualisations, especially in Indian and Nigerian English, on questions regarding gender and sexuality, as well as on Cognitive Contact Linguistics und multimodality. Her monography Cultural models of gender and homosexuality in Indian and Nigerian English will be published soon.
Mario Antonio Tuccillo
He/him. Master‘s student of Linguistics. Explorer of different aspects of sociolinguistics, multilingualism and language change. Appreciator of arts. Passionate about drama films and music.
Jennifer Bartelheim
Master’s student of Spanish and English linguistics. Enthusiastic about internationalization in higher education. Learning through experience.
Alexandra Borschke
Happy whippet mama, who is passionate about languages, cultures, and long-distance running.
Kirsten Ulbrich
Booklover who is passionate about communication, culture, photography, and horseback riding.
Liyan Zhenglan
Taking on the journey to explore the realm of linguistics. Keen on reading, music and cooking, these activities are inextricable part of my leisure time.
Meike Meyering
Master’s student of linguistics. Enthusiastic gardener and animal lover. Passionate and serious Foodsaver.