Projects 2010
07.07.2010. – 30.11.2010. Organisation: Ventspils University College, Department of German, Faculty of Translation Studies On 28th October 2010 in Ventspils, the Germanists’ Day with a motto “Deutsch lebt?!” took place at Ventspils University College. The participants were pupils, teachers, students and university teaching staff from educational establishments in Rīga, Talsi, Saldus, Kuldīga, Rēzekne, Daugavpils and representatives from German institutions in Latvia. During the forum, German professors Brigitte Handwerker (Humboldt University Berlin) and Rainer Bäuerle (University Stuttgart) gave a presentation about the acquisition of German as a foreign language and about topical issues in contemporary German grammar. After the presentations, two work seminars were organized: the acquisition of German as a foreign language and German studies in the context of the university reforms. The participants shared their experience, discussed the issues, developed ideas for further professional activities. In the final part during the informal discussions, the forum participants could exchange their viewpoints and brainstorm about the cooperation regarding the role of the German language in multilingual environment.
01.08.2010. – 30.11.2010. Organisation: University of Latvia, Faculty of Humanities Symposium “Theatre science in the 'post-' theatrical situation - intentions, methods and players?’’ took place from 20th to 22nd November in Riga, at the University of Latvia, Faculty of Humanities and in the Goethe Institute. It was attended by representatives from the Ruhr University Bochum, Hamburg University, University of Latvia and the Latvian Academy of Culture. The aim of the symposium was to provide an insight into current trends of two different theatrical landscapes (German and Latvian) and to understand the status and the role of science in relation to these processes. The public part of the symposium with papers by the Latvian and German theorists took place on 20th November; it was followed on 22nd November by seminars with a group of students from the University of Latvia and the Latvian Academy of Culture. In the symposium the participants got a comprehensive insight into the development of the subject in Latvia and Germany and laid foundations for further cooperation between both sides.
01.04.2010. – 30.11.2010. Organisation: University of Latvia, Faculty of History and Philosophy Prof. G. Abel is one of the most influential and creative philosophers in the modern Germany. He concentrates on a wide range of philosophical problems, such as challenges and perspectives of the modern philosophy, theory of signs, language and life forms, theory of interpretation. Prof. G. Abel also takes part in managerial activities of the FISP (International Federation of Philosophical Societies). His views are also widely known behind the borders of Germany. On 2nd December Prof. Abel held a lecture for a broad public ”What makes a human being unique?” and on the 3rd December – a lecture to the students of the Faculty of History and Philosophy of University of Latvia “Philosophy and neuroscience. Consciousness, language and nature”. He also participated in a PhD Student workshop and held an open lecture at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the University of Latvia. The given lectures will be translated into Latvian and published in a booklet in 2011.
20.05.2010. – 30.11.2010. Organisation: University of Latvia, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology Vittorio Hösle (1960) - an important representative of the modern philosophical thought with a very wide scope of interest. Along with his academic activities (Germany, USA) he also takes active part in addressing social problems on international level (author of expertises for the State Chancellor Office in Germany (Bundeskanzleramt), expert on Italian public television, activities in the organisation ”Committee for a democratic UN”). V. Hösle focuses his atention on analysis of the mental situation in the modern world, ethics, ecology, political philosophy and interpretation of the classical philosophy heritage. In his work ”The Modern Crisis and the Responsibility of Philosophy” (Die Krise der Gegenwart und die Verantwortung der Philosophie) the author by basing on verities of the past thinkers and entering into dialogue with the modern authors seeks for a possible substantiation for new universal ethics. The result of the project is the publication of Hösle's book in Latvian language.
15.05.2010.-15.12.2010. Organisation: Riga Technical University, Riga Biomaterial Innovation and Development Center The aim of the project was the exchange of scientific competence in the field of cell-material interaction research to be able to interpret the obtained results according to unified interpretation principles. In this research the surface of biomaterials was purposefully micro- and nano-structured (micro-contact printing, layer-by-layer structuring, laser-induced structuring) and the interaction between cells and structured surface of biomaterials was tested. In-vitro research results show, that oriented cell growth and stratification of different cells is dependant from the surface structure of the biomaterial.
10.07.2010. – 30.09.2010. Organisation: University of Latvia, The Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, Laboratory for Mathematical Modelling of Environmental and Technological Processes In the Faculty for Physics and Mathematics of University of Latvia from September 10th – 15th took place an international PhD course „Modelling for material processing”. 8 PhD-students from Latvia, Germany and France have attended lectures that were held by the leading professionals of modelling of turbulent flows and semiconductor material technologies from Technical University Munich, Leibnitz institute of crystal growth in Berlin, Leibnitz University of Hanover and University of Latvia. In laboratory works students became acquainted with specific usage of electromagnetic field and ultrasound for the improvement of the quality of metal melts and semiconductor materials by using inductive heating and melting technologies. In the conclusion of the course the participants reported about the research done and received certificates, confirming that they have completed the 40 hours long program.
22.07.2010. - 22.12.2010. Organisation: Riga Technical University, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning in collaboration with the office „büro büchel“ The new economic and social situation caused by collapse of the previous system of planned economy of socialism has caused the necessity to evaluate former experience and to create new knowledge of quality of life based on up-to-date statements of sustainable development. The idea to develop an object-oriented international master level study program of up-to-date theoretical and practical statements in urban planning and architecture at the Riga Technical University arose already several years ago. Riga Technica lUniversity has a fruitful collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University for several years mainly in scientific research projects. Both in Latvia, and Lithuania, in the labour market there is a need for highly qualified urbanists and planners and at the same time a lack of an international-level study program in urban and spatial planning. The third project partner was Weimar Bauhaus University, which already has experience of international Master's program design and implementation in cooperation with the College for Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji-University in Shanghai. Considering the experience of the Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences with the professional higher education master’s study program in spatial development planning the University of Latvia was involved in the project. During the project meetings the participating universities’ representatives discussed the current situation in higher education and labour market and agreed on legal issues, objectives, economic and structural aspects, and on the content of the planned study program. The work on the project and study program’s designing and implementation will be continued in 2011. |
