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The aim of the interdisciplinary workshop of the Research Group "Language" is to shed light on the possibilities of complex and simple communication in science.

In this workshop we want to try a little experiment “on our own” and compare scientific texts from different subjects to see how they use language to present scientific results. We are not concerned with an exact linguistic description of individual phenomena, but rather with our spontaneous impressions: How do texts from other disciplines affect us, which stylistic features surprise or irritate us, what seems familiar to us? What linguistic means do the articles use to present their problem/question? What is considered as 'fact' in each case? How is the argumentation made?

How can Israel-related anti-Semitism be recognised? What distinguishes it from legitimate criticism of Israeli policy? And how should comparisons and exaggerations be dealt with, especially in light of German history? Members of Die Junge Akademie would like to address these questions in a workshop. Speeches by experts from anti-Semitism research, linguistics, sociology and political science will serve as a basis.

As part of the project "Lucid Dreaming, Now and Then", medievalist Racha Kirakosian (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg and Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study) is organising an internal workshop on "Mental Images in the Middle Ages and Neuroscience - New Perspectives".

The ability to see images before "the inner eye" was theoretically discussed in scholastic writings in the Middle Ages as well as critically presented in literary texts. Mental images such as visions, daydreams and sleep dreams played an important role in epistemological processes, religious experiences and artistic arguments for the question of finding and representing truth. Despite their importance for the historical understanding of the human brain, however, medieval concepts of "inner vision" remain under-researched. Can current findings from the neurosciences help to open up the medieval sources in a new way? And, conversely, can ideas from the Middle Ages inspire innovative experiments in the field of neuropsychology? The Hamburg workshop will address these questions by bringing together scientists from the relevant fields for an interdisciplinary discussion.

Bettina M. Bock and Thorsten Merl are organising the colloquium "Doing Asymmetry: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Verbal Behaviour and Pedagogical Practice".

On four dates, researchers will talk about the concept of asymmetry from linguistic, educational and sociological perspectives. What theoretical foundations and what implicit semantics exist in the disciplines, and in what way are they compatible with each other?

Bettina M. Bock and Thorsten Merl are organising the colloquium "Doing Asymmetry: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Verbal Behaviour and Pedagogical Practice".

On four dates, researchers will talk about the concept of asymmetry from linguistic, educational and sociological perspectives. What theoretical foundations and what implicit semantics exist in the disciplines, and in what way are they compatible with each other?

Ten members of the Junge Akademie will be part of the "Salon Sophie Charlotte" at the BBAW.