University of Erfurt Research Groups and Academic Projects
The University of Erfurt fosters a vibrant intellectual ecosystem through the Erfurt doctoral and postdoctoral program (EPPP). This framework supports a diverse array of interdisciplinary research groups and specialized projects, bridging the gap between theoretical inquiry and practical application across the humanities, social sciences, and behavioral studies.
Key Facts
- EPPP: The overarching doctoral and postdoctoral program coordinating various research teams.
- Interdisciplinary Focus: Research spans communication, economics, theology, law, and linguistics.
- Global Engagement: Participation in international initiatives like the National Model United Nations (NMUN).
- Digital Innovation: Development of FactGrid, a collaborative Wikibase database for historians.
Current Research Groups
Communication and Digital Media (COMDIGMED)
COMDIGMED is an international, interdisciplinary association of researchers. It integrates communication science, educational science, psychology, and social science to support member research activities and enhance the networking of teaching and research. The group is a key co-creator of the university's education focus.
Center for Empirical Research in Economics and Behavior (Cereb)
Cereb focuses on the intersection of economic and behavioral sciences. Researchers here specialize in the theoretical modeling of human decision-making, the design of social institutions, and the study of educational and career choices as long-term Selbststeuerungsprozesse (self-steering processes).
Religion and Modernization
The Graduate School "Religion in modernization processes" explores religion through the lenses of social science, literature, media, history of science, theology, and philosophy. It provides young scientists with the resources to develop new understandings of how religion functions within modernizing societies.
Max Weber Center and Human Rights
The Max Weber Center directs its research toward the roles of religion, science, and law as powers of interpretation and control. It examines the interactions between cultures and social systems during periods of radical change, focusing on ethical and normative issues.
Closely linked is the DFG-Graduiertenkolleg "Human Dignity and Human Rights," which employs researchers at both the Max Weber Center and the University of Jena. This group analyzes the development and application of human dignity as a central value of modernity, including the history of violence.
Linguistic Proficiency and Media Studies
The "Proficiency" research project focuses on the theory and promotion of linguistic competence across all modalities: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. This research covers both primary language acquisition and second language learning, contributing to the university's Education gravity profile.
Complementing this is the Forum "Texte.Zeichen.Medien." (Texts.Signs.Media.), which adopts a transphilological approach—meaning it transcends traditional philology to study texts, symbols, and media through an interdisciplinary lens.
Additionally, the DFG Research Training Group "Media historiographies" investigates the symbiotic relationship between history and media, exploring how media techniques encode historical processes and how media themselves possess a distinct history.
Global Interactions
The university also hosts the platform "regions of the world & interactions," facilitating broader geographical and social research.
University Projects
National Model United Nations (NMUN)
Beginning as a pilot project in the summer semester of 2003, a student group traveled to New York City in April 2004 to participate in the NMUN. This initiative has since evolved into a regular, student-organized seminar, earning several awards for its participation in 2006, 2007, and 2008.
FactGrid
Launched in 2018 by the Gotha Research Centre in partnership with Wikimedia Germany and the German National Library, FactGrid is a specialized Wikibase database. It is designed to enable historians to collaborate more effectively on international research projects.
Research Summary Table
| Group/Project | Primary Focus | Key Disciplines |
|---|---|---|
| COMDIGMED | Digital Media & Communication | Psychology, Education, Social Science |
| Cereb | Economic Behavior | Economics, Behavioral Science |
| Max Weber Center | Religion, Law, and Science | Ethics, Sociology, History |
| Proficiency | Linguistic Competence | Linguistics, Education |
| FactGrid | Historical Data Collaboration | History, Digital Humanities |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EPPP?
The EPPP is the Erfurt doctoral and postdoctoral program, which serves as the organizational umbrella for various research groups and teams at the university.
What does the COMDIGMED group study?
COMDIGMED focuses on communication and digital media, utilizing an interdisciplinary approach that combines communication science, psychology, social science, and educational science.
What is FactGrid and who created it?
FactGrid is a Wikibase database for international historical collaboration, created in 2018 by the Gotha Research Centre, Wikimedia Germany, and the German National Library.
How does the "Proficiency" project approach language?
The project uses a theory-based approach to promote linguistic competence in reading, listening, writing, and speaking for both first and second language learners.
What is the focus of the "Media historiographies" group?
This group examines the mutual relationship between history and media, specifically how media techniques influence the recording of history and how media evolve over time.