Novosibirsk State University hosted the conference "Cultural Transfer and Cultural Contacts in Inner Asia". The event was organized by the Oriental Studies and Linguistics Sections and the NSU Humanities Institute’s Research and Education Center “Heritage” together with representatives of the consortium “European-Pacific University Network” (EP UniNet). Leading experts in archeology, history, anthropology, ethnology, cultural studies, and the geopolitics of Central Asia fr om NSU and foreign partner universities attended the event. Also in attendance were young researchers and graduate students from Austria and Russia. For some of them, it was their first experience working with foreign colleagues.
Professor Andrei Zuev, Director of the NSU Humanities Institute, is pleased how the partnership is developing, “Over the past few years, the number of events held jointly by NSU and the EP- UniNet consortium has grown significantly. It’s especially pleasant for me to note that cooperation is developing most intensively in the field of the humanities”.
Stefani Ziehaus, graduate student at the University of Vienna History Department, talked about why she chose her research focus,
I made a the decision to study Russian history and the Russian language because I always felt that Russia and Austria had a special relationship. Austria plays the role of mediator in relations between Russia and Europe. In order to maintain and increase the best that connects our countries, we should pay more attention to studying the principles of cultural contacts and transfers, understand their impact on history and modernity. I spent almost a year in the Russian State Humanities University studying the Russian language. Currently, I am collecting materials for my dissertation in the Russian State Historical Archive of the Far East. In the future, I would like to come to NSU and work under the supervision of Novosibirsk scientists who are recognized experts in studying issues related to the incorporation of Asian regions into the Russian Empire.
Uten Wallenbyuk, Associate Professor at the Vienna Institute History Department, praised the level of preparation that Novosibirsk puts into these international events and emphasized the importance of regular communication for the harmonious development of world science. During the conference, experts from Austria, France and Russia forged strong ties and prepared the foundation for conducting joint research through the Novosibirsk State University “Heritage” Center.
Professor Verena Widorn, Director of the West Himalayan Archive at the University of Vienna, described the impressions from her visit,
I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere in Akademgorodok. When someone talks about Siberia, you usually imagine cold endless expanses wh ere there is not a soul. However, when I arrived here, I found an intensively developing scientific center in the very heart of the forest! I already want to return here again, maybe not for a conference, but as a visiting teacher or researcher.
The event was organized by the Department of Oriental Studies, the Department of Linguistics and the Heritage Research and Education Center at the Novosibirsk State University Humanities Institute together with representatives of the European-Pacific University Network consortium.
