Find Academic Supervisors

Anna ŽabickaView profile

Researcher

• Ageing
• Care and caregiving
• Kinship
• +4 more

Anna Žabicka is an Acting Researcher at Riga Stradins University and a PhD candidate at the University of Vienna. She serves as a student assistant in the Latvian Council of Science-funded project 'Enhancing General Practitioner Resilience in Latvia' (2024-2025), focusing on primary care challenges in Latvia. Her educational background includes: PhD Candidate in Social Sciences, University of Vienna (2019–present), researching 'All roads lead to the Pansionāts: state care as a socio-spatial fixture in emptying rural Latvia' Master of Other Social Sciences, Wayne State University (2017–2019; awarded April 2019) Master of Other Social Sciences, Riga Stradins University (2012–2014; awarded June 2014) Žabicka's research centers on ageing, care systems, kinship networks, public health inequality, and death practices within Latvia's socio-spatial context. Her work critically examines how state care institutions interact with familial structures in rural depopulation scenarios, employing anthropological methods to analyze violence, historical medical frameworks, and caregiving inequalities. She actively investigates how kinship concepts shape parliamentary discourse and policy formation. Analysis of her 2015-2024 publications reveals a cohesive trajectory from institutional ethnography of care centers toward policy-relevant kinship studies. Her recent work demonstrates increasing focus on Latvian parliamentary debates and pandemic-era care adaptations, consistently applying anthropological lenses to public health challenges while maintaining strong regional specificity in the Baltic context. Žabicka actively contributes to academic discourse through conference presentations on topics including 'Chasing the rainbow: how young American queers are moving elsewhere' (2024) and 'Inventing the virus and fixing the kin' (2022). As a member of The Association for Anthropology and Gerontology and the Life Course (2024–present), she engages with international aging research networks while advancing national health resilience projects.

Christoph JedanView profile

Professor

• Ethics
• Comparative Philosophy of Religion
• History of Religion
• +5 more

Christoph Jedan is a Professor of Ethics and Comparative Philosophy of Religion at the University of Groningen, affiliated with the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society and the Department of Christianity and the History of Ideas. His work bridges philosophy, religious studies, and cultural history, focusing on themes such as death, grief, consolation, and the intersection of religion with secular ethics. He teaches courses on bioethics, religious heritage, and the philosophy of science, emphasizing how historical religious thought informs modern societal challenges. Research Interests: Jedan investigates the intellectual and cultural dimensions of death, the evolution of grief rituals, and the role of religion in public discourse. His analysis of 'consolationscapes' explores how spaces like cemeteries and memorials mediate grief across time and geography. He challenges secularist assumptions by highlighting the enduring relevance of religious thought in ethical debates, such as physician-assisted suicide and postsecular politics. Publications and Contributions: Jedan has authored/co-edited pivotal works including Consolationscapes in the Face of Loss (2019) and Stoic Virtues (2009), analyzing Stoic philosophy's theological roots. His research appears in journals like Religions and Nederlands Theologisch Tijdschrift . He advocates for a 'postsecular' approach that integrates religious perspectives into public reason, arguing for religion's intellectual contributions to ethics and societal resilience. Teaching and Academic Activities: As a dedicated educator, he contributes to undergraduate and graduate programs, emphasizing 'big questions' like the ethics of death and the cultural impact of religion. His courses critically engage with historical and contemporary issues, blending philosophical rigor with practical societal relevance.

Dan JorgensenView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Sociocultural Anthropology
• Papua New Guinea Studies
• Mining and Environmental Impact
• +3 more

Dan Jorgensen is an Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Western University. He holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia (1981). His research focuses on sociocultural anthropology in Papua New Guinea, with particular attention to technology, environmental impacts, religious practices, and historical dynamics. Key areas of study include mobile phone adoption, mining consequences, mortuary rituals, witchcraft, and colonial legacies. His work integrates ethnographic fieldwork with critical analysis of modernization, resource extraction, and cultural adaptation. Notable projects examine the Ok Tedi mine’s environmental and social effects, mobile phone networks in Melanesia, and the interplay between Christianity and indigenous belief systems. Jorgensen’s publications span academic monographs, edited volumes, and critical reviews, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding Pacific societies. He has contributed to debates on anthropology’s disciplinary future, the ethics of fieldwork, and the role of technology in contemporary cultures. His research often highlights marginalized voices and environmental justice issues in Papua New Guinea, offering insights into global-local interactions in the Anthropocene.

Kurt TaroffView profile

Professor

• Monodrama
• Theatre Studies
• Drama Adaptation
• +8 more

Dr. Kurt Taroff is the Head of School within the School of Arts, English and Languages at Queen's University Belfast (QUB). He specializes in Monodrama, Theatre Programming, and the intersection of theatre with historical and contemporary societal issues such as gentrification and memory. His research explores subjective experiences in drama, tracing monodrama's evolution from 18th-century music to modern performance. He has led projects like the AHRC-funded 'Living Legacies 1914-18,' examining community engagement with World War I through theatre. Taroff is also investigating non-profit theatre programming in New York's East Village and the impact of gentrification on cultural spaces. He has supervised numerous PhD projects and received the Teaching Award for Sustained Excellence (2018). Key research areas include adaptation and translation in theatre, political theatre, and virtual reality theatre innovations. He has contributed to interdisciplinary initiatives such as the Belfast Lyric Theatre's heritage projects and testified on pandemic impacts in the arts sector. Taroff actively participates in international conferences and collaborates with organizations like the International Federation for Theatre Research.

• Critical Care Nursing
• End-of-Life Care
• Bereavement Support
• +3 more

Dr. Melissa Riegel serves as a Lecturer in Critical Care Nursing (Intensive Care) at the Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery within the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. She maintains active clinical practice through casual registered nursing in acute hospital settings, ensuring her academic work remains grounded in contemporary ICU realities. Her dual roles bridge theoretical education and frontline critical care delivery. Her educational foundation includes registered nursing qualifications from the United States followed by 15 years of clinical experience (3 years in neuro ICU, 12 years in general adult ICU), complemented by roles as clinical nurse consultant and advanced practice nurse. She completed her PhD at the University of Sydney in April 2023, focusing on end-of-life care optimization in intensive care environments. Dr. Riegel's research program centers on transforming bereavement care through memory-making interventions and family-centered practices in adult ICUs. She investigates ICU patient diaries, family writing preferences, and healthcare professional roles in facilitating post-death support. Her work addresses critical gaps in continuity of care during the transition from life-sustaining treatment to bereavement, with particular attention to cultural and organizational influences on practice. Analysis of her 2019-2024 publications reveals an evolving research trajectory deepening memory-making methodologies while adapting to external crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Her studies consistently employ mixed-methods approaches to examine both family experiences and provider capabilities, establishing foundational frameworks for standardized bereavement protocols in critical care. No scientific awards or major fellowships are documented in the available information about Dr. Riegel. She currently supervises Masters candidate Lynne HUNT, whose research examines myocardial infarction risk reduction during environmental triggers. While specific grant details remain undisclosed, her sustained publication record across Australian Critical Care and Journal of Clinical Nursing indicates successful research funding acquisition. Dr. Riegel's collaborative work with colleagues like Buckley, Randall, and Ranse demonstrates active engagement in multidisciplinary critical care research networks.

David AbelView profile

Academic

• Environmental Journalism
• Climate Change
• Documentary Filmmaking
• +5 more

David Abel is a Professor of the Practice in the Journalism Department at Boston University's College of Communication , with an affiliation to the Institute for Global Sustainability . His career spans award-winning environmental journalism , documentary filmmaking , and narrative storytelling on global issues. Abel holds a BA in Political Science and Philosophy from the University of Michigan, an MA in Journalism from Northwestern University, and a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University. His research focuses on climate change impacts , poverty dynamics , war journalism , and environmental policy conflicts . His documentaries —like Entangled (2020), Lobster War (2017), and In the Whale (2023)—explore marine conservation , ecosystem restoration , and human-environment interactions . These films have been featured on PBS , Discovery Channel , and at international film festivals . Scientific Awards : Pulitzer Prize (2014), Jackson Wild award (2020), Edward R. Murrow award, Ernie Pyle award, multiple Sigma Delta Chi awards, and festival recognitions. Teaching : Directed award-winning documentaries at the University of Miami (2016) and taught narrative writing at Harvard Extension School, science journalism at Boston University, and travel writing at Boston Center for Adult Education.

• European Ethnology
• Folklore Studies
• Memory Culture
• +11 more

Prof. Dr. Michael Prosser-Schell is an Extraordinary Professor at the University of Freiburg since 2009 and a Research Associate at the Institute for Folklore of the Germans of Eastern Europe (IVDE) in Freiburg. His work focuses on European Ethnology with special emphasis on German communities in Eastern Europe. He maintains active collaborations with Hungarian academic institutions including the University of Szeged and ELTE University Budapest. Prosser-Schell earned his doctorate from the University of Freiburg in 1991 with a dissertation on 'Late Medieval Rural Legal Records on the Upper Rhine between Memory Culture and Literacy.' He completed his habilitation at the University of Würzburg in 2002 with a thesis titled 'Sport and the Social System of Meaning. On the Influence of Bundesliga Football Events on Contemporary Popular Culture.' His academic journey includes research and teaching positions at Regensburg, Würzburg, Bamberg, and Erlangen-Nuremberg universities before his current appointment at Freiburg. His primary research interests include orality/memory culture and literacy, history of popular religious culture in Central Europe, ritual research (particularly sporting events as popular celebrations), migration research focusing on post-WWII displacement in Southwest Germany, and Danube region/Carpathian Basin studies. His current projects examine the Renaissance of Hungarian-German Rural Architecture, Integration and religious culture of refugees, and Migration and Football. He has developed significant expertise in analyzing religious festivals, pilgrimage practices, and the cultural significance of sporting events as contemporary rituals. Prosser-Schell's scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with European ethnology, particularly German communities in Eastern Europe. His recent publications show increasing focus on migration studies, religious practices of displaced communities, and the cultural significance of sporting events. He has developed expertise in analyzing historical continuity and transformation in folk traditions, especially religious festivals and rituals, with particular attention to the Saint Urban festivals in wine-growing regions. Foreign Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) since 2012 Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of 'Acta Ethnologica Danubiana' Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of 'Yearbook Religion, Culture, Society' Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Alemannic Institute Freiburg/Tübingen Commission for German and Eastern European Folklore in the German Society for Folklore Prosser-Schell has supervised doctoral students including Harald Stahl on forest consciousness and wilderness culture, and Sebastian Felix Sparwasser on identity in the context of forced migration and return of Hungarian Germans. His research is supported through collaborations with institutions like the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Alemannic Institute, with particular focus on migration and integration processes. His international collaborations, especially with Hungarian institutions, form an important dimension of his research framework. Based at the IVDE in Freiburg, he contributes to research on German communities in Eastern Europe, working with archival materials including the Karasek estate. His international collaborations, particularly with Hungarian institutions, form an important dimension of his research activities. He regularly presents at international conferences and maintains active research networks across Central Europe focused on migration studies, religious culture, and European ethnology.

• Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Ethnology
• Applied Ethnology
• +16 more

Sabine Klocke-Daffa is an Adjunct Professor of Ethnology at the Department of Ethnology, Asia-Orient Institute, Faculty of Humanities, University of Tübingen, Germany. She has been an academic associate at the university since 2010 and holds a habilitation in ethnology from the same institution, awarded in 2016. Her academic work spans teaching, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with a strong focus on applied ethnology and cultural anthropology. PhD in Ethnology, University of Münster (1998) Habilitation, University of Tübingen (2016) State Examination in Teacher Training, University of Münster (1987) Master's Degree in Ethnology, Sociology, and Romance Philology, University of Münster (1981) Sabine Klocke-Daffa’s research centers on social and cultural anthropology, particularly in southern Africa (Namibia), Madagascar, and Iran. Her key interests include social security systems, exchange relations, cultural dynamics of resources, religion, applied ethnology, and the integration of ethnology into education. She explores how traditional systems of care and solidarity adapt in modern contexts, especially through funeral insurances and basic income grants. Her work critically examines the interplay between local practices and globalized systems, emphasizing cultural appropriation and identity. Her recent publications (2016–2024) reveal a consistent thematic focus on security, trust, time, and resource valuation. Articles analyze life and funeral insurances in Namibia, mineral resource valuation in Iran, and the Sambatra ritual in Madagascar. These works highlight her anthropological approach to understanding how communities navigate risk, modernity, and social change. The keywords across her research include social insurance, cultural heritage, resource complexes, and transformative education. Challenging Authorities. Ethnographies of Legitimacy and Power in Eastern and Southern Africa (2021) Applied Ethnology. Perspectives of an application-oriented science (2019) The curse and blessing of resources (2016) Career orientation for cultural scientists (2009) Klocke-Daffa has supervised multiple PhD students whose work spans gender, cultural heritage, integration, and governance in diverse regions including Botswana, Namibia, Turkey, and Guatemala. She has been involved in significant research projects such as SFB 1070 'Resource Cultures' (co-leading 'Stones from the South' on Iranian gemstones) and the WILLE project on teaching ethnology. She is a founding member of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Global South Studies and the Center for Religion, Culture and Society at the University of Tübingen, and an associate member of the ELISA ethics project on IT exports to Sub-Saharan Africa. She is actively engaged in academic communities, including the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES) and the German Society for Cultural and Social Anthropology (DGSKA). She serves on the scientific advisory board and board of trustees of the Frobenius Institute Frankfurt. Her professional activities include organizing workshops, presenting at international conferences (EASA, IUAES, EAA), and promoting public anthropology through accessible writing and teaching.

• 20th Century History
• Holocaust Studies
• Jewish History
• +5 more

Dr. hab. Sabina Bober, Professor at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, is a leading scholar in Holocaust Studies and 20th-century Polish history. Her work focuses on Jewish communities, Church-state relations during the Holocaust, and national minorities. Head of Studio (2015-present) Organizer of International Holocaust Remembrance Day events (since 2019) Her research spans: Survival strategies during the Holocaust Role of Catholic clergy in WWII Communist-era indoctrination National minority dynamics Historical commemorations Recent publications analyze Jewish resistance in ghettos/camps, Polish ecumenical unity during independence, and minority rights in interwar legal frameworks. She leads research projects funded by the National Science Centre (NCN) and engages in editorial roles, including co-editing Eksterminacja w systemie niemieckim i sowieckim (2017).

Lauren LabrecqueView profile

Professor

• Sensory Marketing
• Digital Marketing
• Consumer Privacy
• +6 more

Lauren Labrecque serves as Professor of Marketing and Director of Ph.D. Programs and Research at the University of Rhode Island, specializing in sensory marketing (particularly color psychology) and digital marketing domains including consumer privacy, social media engagement, and parasocial interactions. Her research appears in premier journals such as Journal of Marketing and Journal of Marketing Research, where she also serves as Associate Editor for Journal of Interactive Marketing. Her academic background includes: Ph.D. in Marketing, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2006-2010) MBA Coursework, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2005-2006) M.A. in Digital Media Studies, University of Denver (2001-2003) Post-Graduate Studies in Art History & French, American University of Paris (2000-2001) B.A. in Communications, Worcester State University (1997-1999) Labrecque's research program bridges sensory and digital frontiers, examining how color saturation influences product efficacy perceptions and how digital empowerment reshapes consumer-brand dynamics. Her work consistently explores the psychological mechanisms behind consumer responses to sensory cues and digital interfaces, with recent emphasis on AI privacy concerns and data breach consequences in both B2C and B2B contexts. This dual-focus approach reveals how fundamental sensory principles translate into complex digital environments. Analysis of her publication trajectory shows increasing concentration on digital privacy challenges since 2020, alongside sustained contributions to sensory marketing. The 2024-2025 output demonstrates methodological diversity spanning experimental design (color studies), field research (data breaches), and scale development (DCAS), with strong emphasis on practical managerial implications across all work. As Director of Ph.D. Programs and Research at URI, she oversees doctoral training while maintaining active research collaborations evident in her multi-author publications. Her prior role as Associate Professor at Loyola University Chicago contributed to foundational work in parasocial interactions and sensory marketing before her current leadership position.

Laura WittmanView profile

Associate Professor

• 19th- and 20th-century Italian and French literature
• Comparative literature
• Modernity and cultural studies
• +7 more

Laura Wittman is an Associate Professor of French and Italian at Stanford University. She holds affiliations with the Stanford Humanities Center, where she has organized conferences on topics including mysticism, the sacred in Italian culture, and interdisciplinary humanities research. Her work bridges Italian and French literary studies through a comparative lens focused on modernity's intersections with religion, embodiment, mortality, and politics. Education: She earned her B.A. (1991) and all postgraduate degrees (M.A. 1995, MPhil 1996, Ph.D. 2001) from Yale University's Department of Italian Language and Literature. Her doctoral dissertation analyzed mysticism in modernist works by d'Annunzio and Valéry. Research Interests: Explores how modernity reconfigures religious experience through literature and art, particularly regarding death, trauma, and collective memory. Current projects include Lazarus' Silence , examining afterlife imagery as reflections of changing attitudes toward mortality. Publications: Award-winning monograph on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (2011), co-edited volumes on Futurism (2009) and sacred themes in Italian culture (2015), and articles on figures like Marinetti, Montale, and Merini. Her work bridges historical analysis with literary criticism. Awards: Marraro Award (2012) for outstanding scholarship in Italian history. Professional Service: Organized major conferences including CICIS 2019 and a 2010 symposium on Language, Literature, and Mysticism. Currently serves as conference organizer for the California Interdisciplinary Consortium for Italian Studies.

Dušan RaticaView profile

Researcher

• Ethnography
• Social Relations
• Family Relations and Upbringing
• +7 more

Dušan Ratica is a researcher at the Institute of Ethnology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), specializing in ethnography, social relations, family upbringing, value systems, and the digitization of archival documents. He has been affiliated with the institute since 1978, contributing to numerous research projects and publications in Slovak and Central European ethnology. University: Slovak Academy of Sciences School: Institute of Ethnology Department: Department of Ethnography Academic Rank: Researcher His research interests center on the dynamics of value systems, family and social institutions, emigration, and cultural heritage. He has extensively studied intergenerational transmission of traditions, moral education in rural environments, and the role of cultural identity in modern society. His work reflects a deep engagement with both historical and contemporary transformations in Slovak ethnographic culture. The most recent publications highlight a consistent focus on value orientation, urban ethnology, cultural diversity, and the preservation of intangible heritage. His works often explore the intersection of public and private values, the impact of historical context on social behavior, and the ethnographic dimensions of migration and identity. Themes of socialization, tradition, and cultural continuity are recurrent across decades of scholarly output. Scientific Awards: Award of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (1995) – for the Encyclopedia of Slovak Folk Culture Literary Fund Award (1995) – for the Encyclopedia of Slovak Folk Culture International Prize for Ethnographic and Anthropological Studies (1996) SAS Commemorative Plaque (2003) SAS Award for Educational and Popularization Activities (2013) – for the electronic encyclopedia Traditional Folk Culture in Word and Image Dušan Ratica has served as an editor and co-author on major ethnographic projects, including the Encyclopedia of Slovak Folk Culture . He has participated in VEGA and APVV-funded research on group identity, cultural heritage, and the history of ethnology in Slovakia. His collaborative work includes video documentaries on key personalities in Slovak ethnology. While there is no explicit mention of student advising, his editorial and research leadership roles underscore his significant influence in the field. He has been involved in the digitization of archival documents and the development of digital platforms for cultural heritage, contributing to projects that bridge traditional ethnographic research with modern digital methodologies.

Whitny Braun de LobatónView profile

Associate Professor

• Bioethics
• Religious Ethics
• Healthcare Ethics
• +6 more

Whitny Braun de Lobatón is an Associate Professor in Religion - Ethical Studies at the School of Religion, Loma Linda University, where she also serves as the PhD Program Director and leads the Bioethics, MA and Post-BS Certificate programs. Her academic work bridges religious ethics and bioethics, with a focus on healthcare applications. Her educational qualifications include a PhD from Claremont Graduate University, an MA and MPH from Loma Linda University, and a BA from La Sierra University. Dr. Braun de Lobatón's research centers on ethical issues in religion, particularly the intersection of religious practices and healthcare ethics. Her work explores Jain traditions like Sallekhana, the ethical and legal dimensions of prisoner healthcare rights, and religious accommodation in medical settings. She has contributed significantly to interdisciplinary dialogues on cultural competency and end-of-life care. Her recent publications (2017, 2023) on Jainism in healthcare reference texts aimed at healthcare professionals, emphasizing practical ethical guidance. Earlier works (2007–2009) examine the legality and morality of religious fasting to death and constitutional rights to healthcare in prisons, showing a consistent focus on legal-ethical tensions in marginalized contexts. There are no listed scientific awards or honors in the provided material. She mentors students through directed studies and dissertation research, as indicated by her teaching of RELE 699 and RELG 699. She has not received mention of external grants, but her leadership in academic programs suggests administrative and curriculum development responsibilities. Her courses cover bioethics, public health ethics, clinical ethics, and health disparities, reflecting a comprehensive engagement with ethical education in health sciences. Dr. Braun de Lobatón contributes to academic service through program leadership and curriculum design in bioethics education, particularly for healthcare professionals. She does not appear to lead a formal lab or research team, but her scholarly output indicates sustained independent research activity.

Naomi PendleView profile

Associate Professor

• Governance in Armed Conflict
• Famine Studies
• Peace and Conflict Resolution
• +6 more

Dr. Naomi Pendle is a Reader in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences at the University of Bath, with affiliations to the Centre for Development Studies, Centre for Death and Society, and Centre for the Study of Violence. She also holds a Visiting Fellow position at the London School of Economics since September 2021. Her research focuses on governance during armed conflict, famine and crisis, with particular expertise in armed groups, patterns of violence, protection of civilians and peace. She has conducted extensive ethnographic and qualitative research on South Sudan since 2010 and is currently completing a socio-legal study of famine. Her work strongly emphasizes collaboration with local researchers in field contexts, supporting them to co-author and sole author publications. Dr. Pendle is Principal Investigator for several major research projects including "Politics of Famine" (EU Horizon 2020, 2025-2029), "Social and political meanings of death during famine" (British Academy, 2024-2026), and the "CPAID project with LSE" (ESRC, 2022-2025). Her research contributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals related to peace, justice, and strong institutions. Her recent scholarly output demonstrates a strong focus on the intersection of violence, governance, and humanitarian response, with particular attention to South Sudan, famine contexts, and the social dimensions of death and bereavement. Her work spans political science, anthropology, and socio-legal studies, employing primarily qualitative and ethnographic methodologies. Dr. Pendle has been actively engaged in academic events including the Development Studies Association Conference 2025, "Conversations on More-than-Human Loss" (2024), and presentations on "Everyday Politics of Famine" and "Hunger as a Weapon of War and Genocide."

• Borderlands Studies
• Identity Formation
• Social Memory
• +4 more

Magdalena Pokrzyńska, PhD, is a researcher at the Institute of Sociology within the Faculty of Philosophy and Sociology at the University of Zielona Góra. Her work bridges ethnology and sociology, focusing on borderlands, identity, social memory, and folk culture. She has conducted interdisciplinary fieldwork in Poland, Germany, Romania, and Ukraine. MA in Ethnology, University of Wrocław PhD in Sociology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University Her research explores cultural heritage in post-migratory regions, with particular attention to Bukovina communities, viticulture in Zielona Góra, and revitalization in transnational contexts. She utilizes ethnographic and anthropological methods to analyze collective memory and traditionalism. Her recent publications examine cultural practices in the Lubuskie region, transboundary policies, and the evolution of Polish family policy through the 'Family 500+' program. These works span sociology, ethnography, and regional studies. Rector's Award for Academic Excellence Honorary Badge of Sybirak Medal of Remembrance (Association of Sybiraks) Merit for Polish Culture Pro Patria Medal She organizes the Bukovinian Scientific Meetings and Science Festival, and collaborates on international projects in Eastern Europe. Her practical engagement includes running an apiary and preserving Central European folklore through music and handicrafts.