Project

IDUB Programme Objective(s)

• Increasing the impact of scientific activities conducted at the University of Warsaw on the development of world science
• Strengthening research cooperation with high-profile research institutions, particularly in the EU and the US
• Raising the international profile of the University
• Educating young staff and attracting researchers from abroad
• Improving the management of research projects
• Strengthening interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary scientific cooperation within the University of Warsaw and in international partnerships

Name of POB/activity group

• IV. The Humanities: Crossing Borders, Extending Capabilities

Description

An interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research project will be prepared and launched, concerning a research area with scientific and practical potential – one which is also of cultural, social, and ecological importance. The aim of the research will be to verify and recognise correlations between the zones with the greatest concentration of biodiversity, and linguistic and cultural diversity. Examples of these zones are New Guinea, Amazonia, Mesoamerica, and the Congo. Europe also has rapidly shrinking areas of biodiversity and linguistic diversity; the interdependencies between them remain poorly understood. In this activity, the devices and forms of interaction between human communities and their environment/local ecosystems will be studied in particular, allowing for the continuation (and replication) of linguistic and cultural diversity (including stable multilingualism), and the “hotspots” of biodiversity in which these communities are found. In this regard, is it important to know the strategies used in local communities and local knowledge (coded and transmitted in local languages) that allow for sustainable relationships, and forms of utilising the natural environment.

UW will take steps to establish a research network with leading partners in Europe and in other non-European countries. Its task will be to launch a multi-institutional, multidisciplinary. and wide-ranging project, which is aimed at understanding the links between biodiversity, language, and cultural diversity in the world. Pilot/preliminary research in selected areas will be carried out in order to formulate precise research questions and methodological assumptions, taking regional specificities into account. Grant applications to the European Research Council (in the Advanced and Synergy categories) and possibly other programmes for scientific consortia in Horizon Europe are planned.

Justification

Both types of diversity are threatened by the processes of urbanisation and industrialisation. The connections and dependencies between them are still poorly understood.  Research will require close collaboration among experts in linguistics, cultural studies, anthropology, biology, ethnobotany, ethnozoology, ecology, and economics. The implementation of this type of project requires cooperation that crosses the borders of domains and institutions. Since the aim of the project is to discover factors behind diversity and its preservation, the expected outcome is find answers about whether the relationship between different types of diversity is a type of interdependence, which will allow for the development of more effective strategies for their preservation.

Tasks and sub-projects within the tasks

Key scientific tasks include (1) a critical review of the state of the research; (2) collection and an initial analysis of available qualitative and quantitative data; (3) the development of benchmark criteria and strategies for data collection/generation (4) field/pilot studies; (5) development of results and available data using GIS mapping and data-mapping; (6) writing grant applications; (7) acquiring funding and launching research.

The organisational and strategic tasks include (1) acquiring of partners and negotiating the scope of cooperation; (2) networking with partners, joint workshops, and joint pilot research work; (3) formalising the research network/consortium; (4) disseminating research results.

Coordinating unit

• Centre for Research and Practice in Cultural Continuity, Faculty of Artes Liberales

Entities involved in implementation

• Faculty of Artes Liberales
• Faculty of Biology

Coordinator
prof. dr. hab. Justyna Olko

Subprojects: