The Girih Mode in Context, Experience, and Practice: Toward a Cognitive Ecology of Islamic Ornament in Contemporary Architectural Design – Interview with Bahar Akgün (Heidelberg University)

The Girih Mode in Context, Experience, and Practice: Toward a Cognitive Ecology of Islamic Ornament in Contemporary Architectural Design – Interview with Bahar Akgün (Heidelberg University)

Bahar Akgün (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) - What is the girih mode, and how has it been interpreted? - How can cognitive science and eye-tracking methods help us understand the experience of Islamic geometric ornament?  - What are the promises and challenges of conducting interdisciplinary research?  In this episode, we explore how ornaments shape the ways we perceive, navigate, and experience visual environments together with Bahar Akgün from the Islamic Studies Department within the Faculty of Philosophy at Heidelberg University, who was also one of the presenters at the HGGS Summer Forum 2025, “Us and Them.” Her interdisciplinary research examines the girih mode of Islamic geometric ornament through the lenses of Islamic studies, art history, phenomenology, cognitive science, and contemporary architectural design, investigating how geometric patterns can influence perception, contemplation, and embodied experience. The conversation introduces listeners to the girih mode as a distinctive visual language characterized by interlaced geometric structures, star patterns, and endlessly extendable networks that have shaped the aesthetics of Islamic architecture across centuries. Bahar Akgün explains how current architectural debates increasingly approach ornament not only as a symbolic form, but also as a medium that produces affect, visual resonance, and embodied sensory experience. A central focus of the episode is Bahar Akgün’s innovative methodological framework, which combines phenomenological introspection, empirical aesthetics, and eye-tracking studies to investigate the “contemplative gaze” associated with girih patterns. We discuss how visual complexity guides perception, how patterns can embed their own “mode of seeing,” and how empirical methods can help bridge historical aesthetic theory with contemporary cognitive research. The conversation also reflects extensively on the realities of interdisciplinary scholarship. Bahar Akgün shares her experience of navigating multiple academic languages and epistemologies, and conducting research at the intersection of traditionally separate fields. Together, we explore the institutional challenges, and emotional dimensions of interdisciplinary research, and the importance of collaboration, systems thinking, and epistemological pluralism. Join us in this episode as we explore how Islamic geometric ornament reshapes our understanding of perception, aesthetics, architecture, and interdisciplinary research! For Bahar Akgün’s Academic Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bahar-Akguen-2 For Bahar Akgün´s HGGS Page: https://www.hggs.uni-heidelberg.de/en/about-us/members/bahar-akgun Timeline (00:00) Intro (00:24) Introducing Bahar Akgün and Her Academic Background (02:54) Motivation Behind the Research (05:10) The Modernist Suppression of Ornament and Its Contemporary Re-Emergence (08:45) Visual Resonance and Representation in Ornament (12:22) Defining Characteristics of Islamic Geometric Ornament and the Girih Mode (13:53) Interpretations of Islamic Ornament (19:34) Visualizing the Girih Mode (22:52) Developing a Methodological Framework for Analyzing the Girih Mode (26:42) Interdisciplinary Dimensions of the Research (30:16) Working with Supervisors from Different Academic Backgrounds (36:00) Challenges and Rewards of Conducting Interdisciplinary Research (41:28) Collaboration, Systems Thinking, and Different Forms of Interdisciplinary Research (47:38) Future Academic Plans (51:21) Outro Keywords Girih Mode, Islamic Ornament, Islamic Art, Islamic Studies, Architecture, Architectural Design, Computational Design, Cognitive Science, Phenomenology, Aesthetics, Eye-Tracking Research, Visual Perception, Contemplative Gaze, Aesthetics, Art History, Interdisciplinary Research, Systems Thinking, Islamic Architecture, Geometric Patterns, Methodology, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast, Scholarly Conversations

Sustainability and Sustainable Innovation Management – Interview with Dr. Maximilian Jungmann (Heidelberg Center for the Environment, Heidelberg University)

Dr. Maximilian Jungmann (Heidelberg Center for the Environment, Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) - What roles do companies, governments, and individuals play in creating a more sustainable future? - What distinguishes sustainable innovation from traditional innovation, and why is management crucial to its success? - How can companies balance economic profitability with social and environmental impact? In this episode, we explore the concepts of sustainability and sustainable innovation management together with Dr. Maximilian Jungmann, Executive Manager of the Heidelberg Center for the Environment (HCE) at Heidelberg University. Drawing on his interdisciplinary background in political science, sociology, climate change adaptation, and sustainability consulting, Dr. Jungmann reflects on the urgent need to bridge academic knowledge, business practice, and societal transformation in addressing contemporary environmental challenges. Throughout the episode, Dr. Jungmann explains how sustainability requires long-term thinking that takes future generations, resource limitations, and global interdependencies into account, while also emphasizing the importance of resilience, sufficiency, efficiency, and consistency within organizational and societal structures. The episode explores how sustainable innovation differs from conventional innovation approaches by integrating environmental and social responsibility into both the goals and processes of innovation. Dr. Jungmann further elaborates on different forms of innovation, illustrating how technological and organizational change can contribute to more sustainable economic systems. The conversation also examines the role of sustainable business models and the growing importance of ESG frameworks, regulation, and sustainable entrepreneurship. We discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with the European Green Deal, the role of regulation in shaping innovation, and the tensions between long-term sustainability goals and short-term economic interests. In this context, Dr. Jungmann reflects on how businesses can combine profitability with societal impact and why organizational culture and leadership play a decisive role in successful sustainability transformation processes. Join us in this episode as we explore how sustainability, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration can contribute to addressing some of the most pressing environmental and societal challenges of our time! HCE Website: https://www.hce.uni-heidelberg.de [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.hce.uni-heidelberg.de] Dr. Jungmann’s Profile: ⁠https://www.mnovum.com/dr-max-jungmann⁠ [https://www.mnovum.com/dr-max-jungmann] Website of Momentum Novum: https://www.mnovum.com/ [https://www.mnovum.com/] Website of Falk Momentum: https://www.falk-momentum.com/%C3%BCber-uns [https://www.falk-momentum.com/%C3%BCber-uns] Timeline (00:00) Intro (00:24) Introducing Dr. Jungmann (03:56) Research on Sustainability and Sustainable Innovation Management (08:16) What Does Sustainability Mean? (11:20) The Need for Transformation toward a Sustainable Future (13:57) Current Level of Progress in Sustainability (17:33) Regulation, Innovation, and the EU Green Deal (24:03) Sustainable Innovation Management (26:32) Forms of Sustainable Innovation (29:47) Sustainable Business Models (32:29) Competitive Advantages of Sustainable Business Models (34:56) Sufficiency-Driven Business Models (36:37) Organizational Culture and Sustainability Transformation (39:40) Sustainable Startups(44:47) International Climate Cooperation (47:12) The Mission of the HCE (49:32) Outro Keywords Sustainability, Sustainable Innovation Management, ESG Compliance, Sustainable Business Models, Innovation, Innovation Management, Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Green Deal, Climate Change, Sustainable Startups, Sustainability Consulting, Climate Policy, Sustainability Reporting, Corporate Responsibility, Interdisciplinary Research, Environmental Studies, Political Science, Heidelberg Center for the Environment, Heidelberg University, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast

Magical Urbanism: Thresholds, Hybridity, and the Transformative Power of "Us and Them" in Woolf, Lispector, and Lahiri – Interview with Tetyana Kasima (University of Tartu)

Tetyana Kasima (University of Tartu) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) - How do literature and urban spaces shape one another? - What are “heterotopic moments of being,” and how can they help us understand city life? - How do literary texts reimagine questions of identity, visibility, and coexistence in urban environments? As human beings, we are all embedded in time and space, but how does the space we inhabit shape our perspectives and experiences? In this episode, we explore this question through the lens of literary urban studies together with Tetyana Kasima from the University of Tartu, who was also one of the presenters at the HGGS Summer Forum 2025, “Us and Them.” Drawing on her research into Clarice Lispector’s The Besieged City, Virginia Woolf’s Solid Objects, and the works of Jhumpa Lahiri, Tetyana Kasima introduces the concept of “magical urbanism” and examines how literature reflects and reimagines urban life. Combining Michel Foucault’s notion of “heterotopias” with Virginia Woolf’s idea of “moments of being,” she develops the interdisciplinary framework of “heterotopic moments of being” to investigate the relationship between urban environments and human experience in literary texts. Throughout the conversation, we discuss how cities are shaped by contradictions, hybridity, and coexistence, and how literature allows us to pause and reflect on the spaces we inhabit in everyday life. The episode further explores questions of visibility and anonymity in the city, the role of urban porosity, and the ways in which diverse identities and cultures merge within shared urban environments. In addition, Tetyana Kasima reflects on the methodological challenges of combining literary analysis with other artistic mediums, such as painting, through her discussion of Giorgio de Chirico’s artwork and its connection to Clarice Lispector’s fiction. The discussion also touches upon the emotional and experiential dimensions of city life, examining how walking, memory, architecture, and storytelling contribute to our understanding of urban spaces. From Vienna and Paris to fictional cityscapes in literature, the episode highlights how cities can become spaces of imagination, transformation, and interdisciplinary reflection. Join us in this episode as we explore how literature reshapes our understanding of the cities we live in and reveals the hidden layers of urban experience! Timeline (00:00) Intro (00:24) Introducing Tetyana Kasima and Her Academic Background (01:48) Literary Urban Studies and the Motivation Behind the Research (03:50) Heterotopic Moments of Being: Foucault and Virginia Woolf (06:41) Moments of Being and Non-Being in Literary Urbanism (08:26) What Is a City? Perspective and Urban Experience (10:53) Magical Urbanism, Contradictions, and “Us and Them” (15:08) Visibility and Anonymity in a City (16:54) Combining Literature and Visual Art in Research (20:23) Personal Reflection: Magical Cities and Urban Experiences (21:45) Experiencing Cities Through the Eyes of a Researcher (23:44) Outro Keywords Literary Urban Studies, Magical Urbanism, Urban Studies, Comparative Literature, Michel Foucault, Heterotopia, Heterotopic Moments of Being, Virginia Woolf, Clarice Lispector, Jhumpa Lahiri, Giorgio de Chirico, Urban Porosity, City Life, Urban Experience, Literature and Space, Interdisciplinary Research, Cultural Studies, Identity Politics, Hybrid Cultures, Visibility and Anonymity, Walking in the City, Flâneur, Literary Theory, Philosophy and Literature, Urban Culture, Interdisciplinary Discussions, Interviews with Scholars, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast, HGGS, Heidelberg University, University of Tartu Note: This episode is a republished and revised version of one of our previous episodes, with adjustments made to enhance the sound quality and improve the overall flow of the conversation. Thank you very much for your understanding and continued support.

The Limits of Understanding: Towards an Implementable Model of Inter-Paradigmatic Communication – Interview with Antoni Lukasik (Warsaw University)

Antoni Lukasik (Warsaw University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) - What are the limits of understanding within the framework of language in political contexts? - How does Ludwig Wittgenstein’s philosophy reshape our understanding of language and communication? - Can interdisciplinary and empirical approaches improve political communication, particularly in climate policy? In this episode, Antoni Łukasik, researcher from the Department of Philosophy at Warsaw University and participant in the 4EU+ Program Collegio Futuro 2026, takes us on an interdisciplinary journey through the complex relationship between language, understanding, and political communication. Starting from the idea, famously expressed by Antoine deSaint-Exupéry, that “language is a source of misunderstanding,” the conversation explores how linguistic structures shape not only communication but also perception and public discourse. Drawing on the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Antoni Łukasik introduces a shift from viewing language as a mirror of reality to understanding it as a tool for interaction, emphasizing how meaning emerges through use, context, and social exchange. Building on this philosophical foundation, the episode examines the limitations of classical models of political deliberation, highlighting empirical findings that challenge the assumption that rational argument alone leads to consensus. Instead, the discussion turns to holistic and discursive processes that shape public opinion. The discussion further explores the concept of vernacularization and highlights a striking reverse dynamic example in which indigenous knowledge systems in Ecuador have influenced formal political and legal structures from the bottom up. By combining philosophical inquiry with empirical methods such as qualitative fieldwork, this episode sheds light on the challenges of communicating across paradigms, cultures, and disciplines. It also raises fundamental questions about whether universal models of communication are possible or whether we must instead embrace plurality, uncertainty, and contextual understanding. Join us as we explore the boundaries of language, the challenges of political communication, and the possibilities of interdisciplinary approaches for fostering clearer dialogue in an increasingly complex world! Timeline (00:00) Intro (00:24) Introducing Antoni Łukasik and His Academic Background (05:53) Ludwig Wittgenstein and the Philosophy of Language (17:03) Communication Models and Discursive Processes (22:54) Research Design and Case Selection: Climate Policy and Competing Worldviews (28:32) Vernacularization and Knowledge Transfer (31:05) Fieldwork Reflections and Methodological Challenges (34:31) Scientific Methodology (38:58) Hypotheses, Falsification, and Scientific Inquiry (42:39) Personal Reflection: Interdisciplinary Research and Collegio Futuro (45:18) Personal Reflection: Future Research Plans (47:36) Outro Keywords Language, Political Communication, Climate Policy, Philosophy, Philosophy of Language, Empirical Philosophy, Environmental Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Ecuador, Public Discourse, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Karl Popper, Thomas Kuhn, Understanding, Social Representation, Empirical Methods, Vernacularization, Qualitative Fieldwork, Critical Discourse Analysis, Contextual Analysis, Interdisciplinary Research, Interdisciplinary Scholarship, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Scholarly Conversations, Interdisciplinary Discussions, Interviews with Scholars, University Discourse, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast, Research Podcast, University Podcast, Heidelberg University, University of Warsaw, Collegio Futuro

Differences Between First Language and Second Language Acquisition: Psycholinguistics and Cognitive Science Perspectives – Interview with Elizaveta Savina (Heidelberg University)

Elizaveta Savina (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) - What are the fundamental differences between first and second language acquisition? - How do implicit and explicit learning processes shape language learning outcomes? - What role does structural priming play in second language acquisition? In this episode, Elizaveta Savina, PhD Student from the Heidelberg University Language and Cognition Lab (HULC) at the Institute of German as a Foreign Philology, introduces us to the complex and fascinating dynamics of first and second language acquisition from the perspectives of psycholinguistics and cognitive science. Drawing on her research, Elizaveta Savina explores how cognitive mechanisms operate behind the scenes during language acquisition, emphasizing the roles of implicit and explicit learning processes. Within this framework, she highlights the concept of structural priming as a key mechanism that enables learners to internalize grammatical structures through repeated exposure, thereby facilitating fluency and comprehension. The conversation further sheds light on empirical methods such as eye-tracking in the visual world paradigm, offering insights into how researchers investigate real-time language processing and learning. Join us as we explore the cognitive foundations of language learning, the challenges and opportunities of acquiring a second language, and what these insights reveal about human cognition and communication more broadly! For Elizaveta Savina’s current study: Flyer: https://heibox.uni-heidelberg.de/f/f4b6ed8cb083462986a5/ Appointment Calendar: https://koalendar.com/e/studie-eye-tracking-idf   Heidelberg University Language and Cognition Lab (HULC): https://www.hulclab.eu/research/   Timeline (00:00) Intro (00:24) Introducing Elizaveta Savina and Her Academic Background (03:01) Motivation Behind the Research Topic Theoretical Implications (05:41) Differences Between First and Second Language Acquisition (08:40) Implicit vs. Explicit Learning (11:28) Implicit Learning in Cognitive Science (12:41) Acquisition vs. Learning (15:19) Structural Priming Explained (18:19) Structural Priming and Predictive Coding Theory (24:54) Learning during Sleep? Methodological Insights in Psycholinguistic Research (27:42) Research Hypotheses (29:21) Sciences of Cognition and Language (32:50) Eye-Tracking and the Visual World Paradigm (35:42) Requirements of Psycholinguistic Research (37:51) Interdisciplinary Perspectives of Cognitive Science at Heidelberg University (40:03) Practical Implications for Researching German Learners (44:16) Challenges of Learning German Grammar (47:08) Structural Priming State of Art and Novelty Personal Perspectives (49:41) Personal Reflections on Language Learning (51:12) Advantages of Early and Late Language Learning (55:26) Further Language Learning Plans (58:15) Outro   Keywords Language Learning, Language Acquisition, Psycholinguistics, Cognitive Science, Second Language Acquisition, First Language Acquisition, Language Journey, Structural Priming, Implicit Learning, Explicit Learning, Eye Tracking, Linguistics, HULC, Interdisciplinary Research, Interdisciplinary Scholarship, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Scholarly Conversations, Interdisciplinary Discussions, Interviews with Scholars, University Discourse, Us and Them, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast, Research Podcast, University Podcast, Heidelberg University