Concepts help us to understand and classify the world. Often, however, we don’t realize where they come from and what underlies them. Lerato Posholi studies the politics of knowledge drawing from decolonial theory and social epistemology.
How does our law react when technology fails? Christapor Yacoubian studies questions of liability when using robots and software agents. The doctoral student in law has already won awards for his academic accomplishments – even though he originally had no intention of studying law.
The academic and professional world often encourages crossing borders, both literal and metaphorical. Such is the tale of Alaa Dia: Born and raised in Lebanon, Dia took his academic pursuits to Switzerland. Over the years, his work transitioned from an architectural perspective to a theoretical understanding of space, cartography, and borders.
Who lived in the Basel region around 1,500 years ago? Where were they from and what did they eat? Archaeologist Margaux Depaermentier is looking for answers. One place she is finding them is in the tooth enamel of skeletons.
He conducts preventative health research in Lesotho, improves clinical research in Switzerland, and still manages to find time for his passion: music. As structured and focused as the epidemiologist and clinical researcher’s work is now, his career began almost by accident.
Yukiko Tomooka has worked at the Department of Biomedical Engineering for the past year and a half. The Japanese PhD student came to Basel to carry out research on surgical robotics. And because she is able to interact with the end users of her innovations here.
The University of Basel is strengthening its expertise in Gender Studies with a new professorship: the University Council has appointed Bianca Prietl as Professor with a focus on digitalization.
Adam Hearn is holding a copy of his doctoral thesis, though a doctorate wasn’t always on his horizon. For a long time, the 45-year-old rejected the idea of an academic career. As an academic, he is making the case for sustainable energy. And – with his personal commitments – demonstrating what each of us can do to reverse climate change.
Ethiopia is known for its coffee but also regularly makes headlines for poverty and the flaring up of violence. For his dissertation project, geographer Thomas Betschart investigates how the design of the country’s infrastructure shapes daily life. Getting into conversation with locals and gathering information turned out to be quite a challenge.
