Michael Penkler

Michael Penkler is a researcher affiliated with the Department of Science and Technology Studies within the Faculty of Social Sciences, specializing in the intersection of healthcare systems, discourse analysis, and social dynamics. His work critically examines how language, rhetoric, and institutional structures shape medical practices and health policy implementation.

His research interests center on health research, discourse analysis, and diversity practices in healthcare settings, with specific focus on obesity treatment, outpatient clinic operations, and the rhetorical framing of medical concepts. Penkler investigates how buzzwords like 'diversity' function within projectified healthcare environments and how narrative structures influence patient care and health promotion strategies.

Analysis of his publication trends reveals consistent engagement with medical anthropology and sociology of health, particularly examining obesity treatment frameworks through discourse analysis. His work demonstrates strong connections to healthcare rhetoric, with recurring themes in target group identification, narrative construction in clinical settings, and the material effects of linguistic patterns in medical contexts.

Penkler actively collaborates with researchers including Ulrike Felt and Kay Franziska Felder, as evidenced by co-authored publications and joint conference activities. His scholarly contributions include significant engagement with academic conferences, particularly through poster presentations at events like 'Science to Science' where he explored themes of technoscience's societal impact and democratic implications of scientific practice.