Performative presentation: The Inter-University Doctoral School “Cultures in Transformation” introduces itself

On January 29, 2025, the doctoral students of the Inter-University Doctoral School “Cultures in Transformation” – Fernanda Ermelindo Rodrigues, Zuzana Ernst, Julieta Jacobi, Lea Letzel, Ewa Meister, Anna Rebecca Menslin and Kinga Tóth – presented their dissertation projects to the colleagues from Arts & Knowledges and the interested public.

The event was opened by Rector Elisabeth Gutjahr (Mozarteum University) and Rector Bernhard Fügenschuh (Paris Lodron University Salzburg). In their welcoming addresses, they emphasized the importance of the doctoral college as a transdisciplinary experimental space with trend-setting research practice and as a central institution for the promotion of young academics. Josef Schöchl, Member of the Provincial Parliament of Salzburg, was present and praised the inter-university project as an important contribution to the promotion of science and art in the province of Salzburg.

The seven doctoral students work as a transdisciplinary collective in the college, bringing in different disciplinary, artistic and thematic perspectives under the direction of Nicole Haitzinger, Lucia D’Errico and Anita Moser. As part of their performative presentation, they “translated” their dissertation projects into individual toppings (such as various salts, dried algae, dumplings, a Brazilian root, bread, food coloring and mushrooms) for a soup that simmered in a large pot. Attendees were invited to experience a curated alchemical cooking act and then taste the soup with toppings of their choice. In this way, the research projects were illustrated in an entertaining and tasty way.

More information on the doctoral school

Thanks to Hubert Auer for the pictures!