Merian Centre Roundtable Discussion: Multilingualism and Knowledge Exchange in Academia(MIASA, MECAM and ICAS:MP)
There are five ‘Maria Sibylla Merian Centres’ funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with the aim to strengthen scientific collaboration between Germany and one or more countries in different regions. All Merian Centres are Institutes of Advanced Study with an extensive fellowship programme for scholars in the Humanities and Social Sciences. ICAS:MP is delighted to welcome representatives from the Merian Centres in Tunisia and Ghana to discuss Multilingualism and Knowledge Exchange in Academia.
Date: 18 February 2025
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM IST
Venue: Conference Room 1, India International Centre (IIC), Delhi
Abstract:
In an increasingly interconnected academic landscape, multilingualism is both a challenge and an opportunity, playing a critical role in shaping equitable and inclusive research practices. In many parts of the world, language use in science and higher education reflects colonial past, thereby maintaining power structures and nurturing research traditions imposed by former colonial rulers. Interestingly, while there are visible efforts to promote language diversity on an institutional level in many places, global academia increasingly accepts English as a convenient lingua franca in multilingual contexts. While the use of a shared language facilitates the exchange of ideas and increases potential readership, it structurally marginalizes other languages and the knowledge systems they represent, thereby perpetuating epistemic inequalities. Scholars and institutions have, however, started to recognize the value of incorporating multiple languages in research collaboration and publishing since multilingualism fosters inclusivity, enriches academic discourse, and provides avenues for other sources of knowledge, diverse perspectives, methodologies, and cultural understandings.
As centers for advanced studies located in diverse linguistic, geographic and cultural regions, the Merian Centres are uniquely positioned to examine the complexities and opportunities multilingualism brings to collaboration and knowledge production. This roundtable discussion aims to explore how multilingualism, in spite of its challenges, can be leveraged to promote epistemic justice and inclusivity in knowledge production. Moreover, it seeks to highlight the importance of challenging existing traditions of language use in research for the decolonization of knowledge production and knowledge exchange. By sharing experiences across regions, the discussion aims to identify strategies to amplify the voices of scholars from diverse linguistic backgrounds and create more equitable frameworks for global knowledge production. Thus, it will address structural barriers to multilingual academic outputs by highlighting strategies for overcoming these barriers, supporting diverse linguistic contributions, and ensuring that knowledge production and dissemination reflect the plurality of global academia.
The event will be moderated by Baidik Bhattacharya (Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi, former ICAS:MP Fellow). The speakers are Grace Diabah (Ghanaese Director MIASA, University of Ghana), Mamadou Diawara (German director MIASA, Frankfurt University), Agnes Schneider-Musah (Coordinator MIASA), Rachid Ouaissa (MECAM director, Political Science Middle East in Marburg, Germany), Emna Beltaif (MECAM, Vice-President Tunis University), Julius Dihstelhoff (Coordinator MECAM), Ravikant (Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi, ICAS:MP Member) and Martin Fuchs (Former ICAS:MP Director, Max Weber Kolleg, Erfurt).

OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
sukritimanocha (March 11, 2025). Merian Centre Roundtable Discussion: Multilingualism and Knowledge Exchange in Academia(MIASA, MECAM and ICAS:MP). ICAS:MP. Retrieved March 18, 2025 from https://doi.org/10.58079/13g4p