ETH Zurich Community & Outreach’s Post

Last week, I presented a paper at McGill University in Montréal to the 21st Annual McGill-Queen’s Graduate Conference in History. Themed, "The Future is a Foreign Country: Past Representations of Things to Come," the conference featured high-quality research from Canadian scholars in fields such as imperial extraction & the environment, activism & gender, historical narrative & materiality, doctrine & divination, and state development.   My paper was titled "News Signals from the Telegraph Networks of Colonial Nigeria," and it examined the multi-faceted relationships between communications technology, journalism, and cultural imperialism from past, present and future perspectives. I argue that news communication was a central feature of cultural imperialism in the British empire and that it was enabled by telecommunications development, starting with the telegraph.   Understanding historical connections is central to making sense of the present and redefining the future. My paper therefore makes important recommendations for Nigeria and other parts of the Global South, such as the need to invest in modern communications infrastructure, extensive research and development, widespread IT access and literacy, and strong regulatory frameworks. #history #africanstudies #technology #telegraph #telecommunications #colonialism #imperialism #nigeria

We are happy to announce the establishment of the Institute for Central and Eastern European Societies! The Institute for Central and Eastern European Societies (ICEES) is dedicated to fostering understanding, collaboration, and cultural exchange across the diverse region from the Baltics to the Balkans and the Caucasus. Our mission is to: -Represent and promote the rich tapestry of cultures, histories, political systems, religions, and beliefs that shape Central and Eastern Europe. -Share insights and knowledge about the complexities and nuances of this dynamic region and broadening perspectives on it. -Conduct research on key issues affecting Central and Eastern European societies. -Bridge the gap between Western and Eastern Europeans by facilitating meaningful connections, dialogue, and partnerships. -Cultivate a stronger European identity by highlighting shared values and experiences while celebrating regional diversity. Through our work, we aim to contribute to a more cohesive, informed, and interconnected Europe, where a better understanding leads to flourishing cooperation to solve the most pressing and relevant issues across our continent. Stay tuned for upcoming projects! #ICEES #CentralEurope #EasternEurope #EuropeanStudies #ThinkTank #CulturalExchange #EuropeanIdentity #RegionalCooperation #BalticStates #Balkans #Caucasus #EuropeanDiversity #CrossCulturalUnderstanding #EuropeanResearch #InternationalRelations #EuropeanPolitics #CulturalBridges #EuropeanSocieties #AcademicInstitute #NewInstitute

This article underscores the necessity for African countries to introduce a dedicated category of travel visas for scientists and researchers, aiming to facilitate scientific development on the continent. It also touches on challenges faced by African scientists, including limited access to cutting-edge research facilities, and suggests harnessing the potential of remote access to address these issues. Various existing programs and initiatives, such as the African Academy of Sciences' African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence Programme and the African BioImaging Consortium, are mentioned as examples of efforts to support research and resource-sharing in Africa. 📝 Maina Waruru for University World News 👉 https://bit.ly/3HmChVU

Preservation means managing, understanding, and valorizing cultural heritage. It's about studying the connections between objects, their history, the societies that made them, and where they are now. This is a key contribution CCR has made yesterday to Africa international roundtable.

[Meet] Prof Felix Maringe, Visiting Prof: University of the Witwatersrand, School of Education; Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Institutional Development, Research and Innovation, University of Kigali. He is a finalist contending for the NSTF- South32 Science Diplomacy for Africa Award, proudly sponsored by the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Prof Maringe’s research niche is the Internationalisation of Higher Education (HE) standing on four distinct, though intersecting themes of human/intellectual capital migration, curriculum internationalisation, decolonisation and social and cognitive justice in HE. Research across these thematic strands seeks to establish a democratic and mutually supportive, inclusive and highly connected HE space across the traditional knowledge divides. The creation of cognitively just educational spaces and approaches, the horizontalisation of existing knowledge hierarchies, and the pursuit of worthwhile knowledge capable of interrogating, primarily, local challenges, while staying true to global imperatives, constitute the critical strands of his contribution to Science Diplomacy in Africa over the past 25 years. See the full list of the Award finalists here: https://lnkd.in/dQeqBmVC #NSTFawards2024 #ScienceOscars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Innovation #STEMrolemodels #Research #Development #4IR #Fourthindustrialrevolution #4IRtechnology #scicomms #researchedsolutions

🌏SEAC Upcoming Event: The Crypto-Colonial Heritage of Modern Thailand 🌏 🗓️ Date: 9 October 2024 🕚 Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm 📷 📍Location: Room SAL.LG.03, LSE 💻 Join online via Zoom Prof Michael Herzfeld (Harvard University) will discuss the status of Thailand as an example of “crypto-colonialism” – a phenomenon in which declarations of independence and of high civilization conceal elite arrangements with colonial powers whereby the alleged freedom turns out to be highly conditional, and in which the colonial powers’ “civilizational discourse” reproduces locally the humiliation of the nation-state by the colonial powers. Using examples drawn from ethnographic as well as historical sources, Herzfeld will also place Thailand’s current dilemmas in a global context, with specific reference to the political evolution of Greece and Nepal. Full details: https://bit.ly/3TTTFIh

🇩🇪 In the 5th edition of LIR Germany, Eduardo Saravia Díaz, Chief Economist of Sound Diplomacy and Member of the expert facilities of UNESCO, discusses the economic and social significance of cultural and creative industries, highlighting digital age challenges like market concentration, regional disparities and AI's impact. 🗣️ "Disparity in digital skills can further deepen the existing divides, limiting the ability of artists, creators and cultural managers from less technologically advanced regions to compete on a global scale and diminishing the overall diversity of cultural content", says Eduardo Saravia. ➡️ You can read it now by following this link: https://lnkd.in/epiYuVNM

 The significance of Armenia in the region lies in its historical and cultural heritage, as its ancient civilization has greatly influenced neighboring countries, shaping their art, architecture, and literature. The strategic location of Armenia makes it a key player in the region, as it serves as a crucial link between Europe and Asia, enabling trade and cultural exchange between different civilizations. Armenia's geopolitical significance is evident in its efforts to maintain regional stability, as it plays a pivotal role in mediating conflicts among its neighboring countries, promoting cooperation and peace in the region. The Armenian diaspora's global impact reflects the significance of Armenia in the region, as this vast network of Armenians abroad has contributed significantly to various fields, including politics, economy, and culture, and has strengthened Armenia's influence internationally. The ecological importance of Armenia is evident in its rich biodiversity and natural landscapes, as the country is home to unique species and ecosystems, highlighting the need for sustainable development and environmental protection in the region. The historical trauma and ongoing struggle of Armenia against various foreign invasions and genocides emphasize its significance in the region, as it has become a symbol of resilience and determination, inspiring neighboring countries in their pursuit of freedom and justice.

🇪🇺 - #OurCommonFuture #EUdiplomacy "Any community that does not contribute to the political, economic and social development of the country in which they live and cannot keep up with the speed of the evolving scientific era; chooses there, for not to be heard in a society! Therefore, expand your vision in your community. Problems are not to make a problem out of it! Problems exist, to make something good out of it. The European society is actually ready for heart conquests! Politics should not determine how we look at each other and how we think about each other. It is a shame that this is not the fault of the politicians, but rather ours as a people, because we have simply allowed this to happen for years. I hope that younger generations will change this. We must remember that our experience depends on our choices and that our choices depend on what we experience. Life is based on choices. Every idea and dream is actually a project; if you dare to work on it! Whatever you do, wherever you are; keep working for a heart-winning society.." Fetih F. Coskunsu Cultural Diplomacy Counselor

🔵 Is Democracy, as a political system, being transformed through the latest technological evolutions? Are we experiencing new forms of participation and civic expression? Are mainstream politics over? 🔵 A breakthrough Summit on Democracy, Technology, and Participation is coming on Tuesday, 23/4/2024, at the University of Cyprus. 🔵 Global leaders, political analysts, civic activists, technology experts, and a group of researchers coming together, supported by the Center for Social Innovation - CSI #InnovationForAll #Democracy #NewPolitics #EmergingTechnologies