Lena Dallywater

Dr. Lena Dallywater is a Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography in Leipzig since 2016. She coordinates the Leibniz ScienceCampus Eastern Europe – Global Area and holds a PhD from Leipzig University (2024) on 'Intellectual Conceptualizations of Black and African Aesthetics since 1956'. Her academic background includes an M.A. in Communication and Cultural Studies (2011), and extensive professional experience in research coordination, including roles in the DFG-funded program 'Adaptation and Creativity in Africa' (2011–2016) and at the Global and European Studies Institute (GESI).

Her research focuses on intellectual history, philosophy, and African aesthetics, with a regional emphasis on Southern and West Africa and the African diaspora in France and the USA. Key themes include the Black Arts Movement, Black Consciousness Movement, and transnational cultural transfers. She has coordinated interdisciplinary projects linking Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and Africa during decolonization eras.

Publications highlight her expertise in decolonization studies, transnational activism, and postcolonial theory. These include co-editing volumes like *Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and Africa* (2023) and *Southern African Liberation Movements* (2019). Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary debates on cultural identity and global networks.

• Leibniz ScienceCampus Coordinator: Eastern Europe – Global Area
• PhD Topic: Black and African Aesthetics (2024)
• Past Roles: DFG Program Coordinator (2011–2016), GESI Research Administrator

Her research infrastructure contributions include archival work and geovisualization projects at the IfL, emphasizing spatialization of cultural and historical processes.