Prof. Małgorzata Kossowska, Dr hab. Marcin Brocki, Prof. UJ and Dr Łukasz Tomczyk from the Jagiellonian University have been awarded in this year’s edition of the Collaboration of Humanities and Social Sciences in Europe (CHANSE) call entitled Transformations: Social and Cultural Dynamics in the Digital Age. The call, coordinated by the National Science Centre, is a collaboration between the HERA and NORFACE networks, involves 27 institutions from 24 European countries.
According to the National Science Centre, the 26 winning projects were selected from a total of 366 applications. The list features 12 research teams from Poland, including three from the Jagiellonian University.
Prof. Małgorzata Kossowska from the JU Faculty of Philosophy, the only project leader from Poland, has received a grant for a project entitled DigiPatch: Moving From Networked To Patchworked Society: Motivational Underpinnings and Societal Consequences which will be carried out together with the University of Gothenburg, Stockholm University, University of Cordoba, Freie Universität Berlin and University College London.
‘The main aim of the project is to investigate the role of digital media in social and cultural transformations, which we see as a departure from an open society based on elastic social networks and into a ‘patchwork society’ characterised by closed (micro)groups with strong identities, strong internal ties and their own epistemic realities. This process leads to societal fragmentation and has serious consequences, such as low trust in governments and their institutions, low level of social consensus, low levels of participation as well as disobedience. The project is focused on understanding the role of motivational, cognitive, social and cultural factors that shape the process’, Prof. Małgorzata Kossowska explained.
Another of the awarded projects, DigiFREN: Digital Aestheticisation of Fragile Environments, features Dr hab. Marcin Brocki from the JU Faculty of History as a leader of the Polish part of the research team. The project will focus on the consequences of digital aestheticisation of natural environments in five European countries. Historical and ethnographic research will concentrate on how digital media and technology influence the changes in perception of, sensitivity toward and practices regarding the natural environment.
Similarly, the Polish part of the research team in the project REMEDIS: REthinking Media literacy and DIgital Skills in Europe will also be supervised by a Jagiellonian University scholar: Dr Łukasz Tomczyk from the JU Faculty of Philosophy. The project aims to draw the attention of policymakers and practitioners on poorly researched issues connecting various types of digital and media skills in those aspects of life that are related to positive results when it comes to increasing social integration and the wealth of individuals as well as societies.
For more information about the call, please visit the National Science Centre website.
