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Prof. Bettina Beer is a Full Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Lucerne, affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Her research focuses on kinship, migration, and the socio-cultural impacts of global capital, particularly in Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. Beer holds a PhD from the University of Hamburg (1995) and habilitation (2001) on body concepts and racism. She has held prestigious positions such as the Leibniz Chair (2011–2014) and is a member of the Young Academy (Berlin-Brandenburg). Her research projects include De-Kinning and Re-kinning (SNF-funded, 2022–2026), examining estrangement and divorce in kin networks, and International Capital and Local Inequality (PNG mining impacts). She leads the University Research Priority Group on Family Change in Migration and Globalization (2016–2021). Beer’s work spans ethnographic fieldwork in Oceania and Southeast Asia, addressing themes like interethnic marriages, sensory anthropology, and environmental governance. She co-edits Sociologus and has published widely on cultural diversity and socio-political transformations. Her accolades include the Heisenberg Fellowship (DFG), Siemers-Preis, and UNESCO’s Best Practice Award for heritage management in Vigan, Philippines. She teaches courses on anthropological theory, kinship, and global ethnography, mentoring numerous PhD students.

• Transcultural Relations and Migration
• Kinship and Political Anthropology
• Psychological Anthropology
• +7 more

Christian Büschges is a Professor of Iberian and Latin American History at the University of Bern. His research spans early modern colonial governance, liberation theology, and transcultural dynamics in the Americas. University: University of Bern Department: Iberian and Latin American History Email: christian.bueschges@unibe.ch Research Focus : His work examines viceroyalty systems, indigenous agency in colonial contexts, and the interplay between religion and social movements. Recent studies analyze hip-hop's transnational evolution and the Buen Vivir philosophy in Ecuador. Publications : His 2024 articles explore Spanish monarchy power structures, while 2023 works address race, transnationalism, and environmental philosophies. Earlier research delves into oligarchic networks and colonial religious migrations.

• Latin American History
• Colonial History
• Indigenous Studies
• +4 more

Rebekka Ehret serves as Lecturer and project manager at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) within the School of Social Work's Institute for Sociocultural Development, and concurrently lectures at the University of Basel's Institute of Sociology. Her career spans over three decades with significant contributions to migration studies and diversity management across Swiss and international contexts. Educational background includes a doctorate in ethnology with English studies minor from the University of Basel (1998), complemented by continuing education in higher education didactics (2000-2001), human resources management (1999), communication (1995), and language/speech training (1994). Doctorate: Ethnology, University of Basel (1998) Lecturer Program: Higher Education Didactics, University of Basel (2000-2001) Continuing Education: Human Resources Management, University of Basel (1999) Continuing Education: Communication, University of Basel (1995) Continuing Education: Language/Speech, University of Basel (1994) Ehret's research centers on migration integration, intercultural communication, and diversity management, with emphasis on practical applications in Swiss social institutions. Her work consistently examines power dynamics in migrant counseling, healthcare accessibility for diverse populations, and community-based integration models. She employs emic-etic analytical frameworks to bridge theoretical concepts with frontline social work practice, particularly focusing on refugee children and institutional diversity implementation. Publication trends from 2014-2024 reveal sustained engagement with intersectionality in disability/migration contexts, structural barriers in healthcare, and migrant potential utilization in community development. Her 2024 book chapter advances an emic-etic model for counseling centers, while earlier works analyze young refugee situations (2016) and diversity curriculum implementation (2018), demonstrating methodological evolution from descriptive case studies to theoretical model-building. Project leadership includes the SWEET LANTERN energy transition initiative, Uri canton's migrant counseling evaluation, Tourism Microentrepreneurship for social inclusion, and anti-racist teaching development for Social Work bachelor programs. These reflect her dual focus on macro-level policy frameworks and micro-level community interventions, often involving collaborative partnerships with Swiss cantonal authorities and international bodies like the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

• Migration and Integration
• Intercultural Communication
• Diversity Management
• +3 more

François-Karl Gschwend is a Lecturer at the Chinese Studies Unit of the University of Geneva . His academic work spans Chinese and Japanese languages, cultures, lexicology, and the translation of contemporary Chinese literature, with particular expertise in teaching Chinese as a foreign language. Focuses on micronarratives and cultural representation Active in translation studies and lexicological analysis Engages in both academic and public-facing writing Research Trends : Gschwend’s publications emphasize contemporary Chinese short fiction, cross-cultural translation practices, and the intersection of cultural studies with historical analysis. Key themes include urban life depiction, linguistic evolution, and Sino-Japanese literary exchange. His 2021 conference presentation interrogates Western interpretations of Ming dynasty political thought. Scientific Recognition : 2021: Publication elected among ten most significant Chinese micro-story events Teaching & Public Engagement : Delivers courses on Chinese language and culture while contributing to public discourse through op-eds in La Liberté (2007-2010) covering topics from language learning to societal perceptions of China.

• Chinese and Japanese Languages
• Chinese and Japanese Cultures
• Translation Studies (Contemporary Chinese Literature)
• +3 more