Research Coordinator of the Center for Intercultural Studies
Heike C. Spickermann is acting Research Coordinator for the Center for Intercultural Studies. She has been working for the Center since 1999, completing the Master of Arts 2003 in General and Comparative Literature, having included a wide range of humanities and social sciences subjects in her studies. Until 2005 she was also a freelance editor and worked in the research management and for various publishers, e.g. correcting the Gutenberg Yearbook of the international Gutenberg Society for several years. Further short-term activities at that time were the translation of a book from Brazilian Portuguese for research purposes as well as the temporary collaboration in the edition of the collected works of Alfred Andersch.
Since 2005, working now fulltime as Research Coordinator at the Center for Intercultural Studies, she could focus on the conception and management of research and knowledge transfer, as well as the conception and organization of ‘pseudo-scientific’ (science-transferring) events and conferences, primarily. Other focal points are conceptual research consulting, reporting, evaluation, strategic PR, networking of scientists and internal and external communication. For this now more extensive work at the Center for Intercultural Studies, she let her doctoral thesis rest for the time being. Since 2014, she has also been the Managing Editor of the publication series Intercultural Studies at the Center. From thirteen volumes, she has edited so far, she published three co- indepently.
In 2021 (until June 2024) besides her function for ZIS she was also project coordination of the Mainz part of the RMU-BMBF joint project CEDITRAA Cultural Entrepreneurship and Digital Transformation in Africa and Asia. The second project phase begins successfully, starting January 1st, 2025 (until December 31st, 2027).
Since January 2024, the ZIS has been absorbed into the GFF - Georg Forster Forum, a new profile area at JGU, for which she is now continuing her work as a academic coordinator.
Research interests
Classical modernity, references and comparisons (Latin America / Europe), philosophy of science, knowledge transfer into scientific and public space (museums, exhibitions, media changes, conditions of scientific, creative and social constellations)
Publications
Developing Transnational American Studies. (Ed. together with Nadja Gernalzick) Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter, 2018 (Intercultural Studies 8).
Dispositionen der Interkulturalitätsforschung. Introduction. In: Perspektiven der Interkulturalität. Forschungsfelder eines umstrittenen Begriffs. Ed. by Anton J. Escher und Heike C. Spickermann. Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter, 2018 (Intercultural Studies 1), 9-32.
Perspektiven der Interkulturalität. Forschungsfelder eines umstrittenen Begriffs. (Ed. together with Anton J. Escher) Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter, 2018. (Intercultural Studies 1)
Preface. In: Weltliteratur interkulturell. Referenzen von Cusanus bis Bob Dylan.
Für Dieter Lamping zum 60. Geburtstag. Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter, 2015 (Intercultural Studies 3), 9-14.
(Ed.) Weltliteratur interkulturell. Referenzen von Cusanus bis Bob Dylan.
Für Dieter Lamping zum 60. Geburtstag. Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter, 2015. (Intercultural Studies 3)
Knef und die Folgen. Bestsellermarketing in den siebziger Jahren. In: 50 Jahre Frankfurter Buchmesse. 1949–1999. Ed. by Stephan Füssel. Frankfurt/Main: Suhrkamp 1999, pp. 120–129.
Mit einem Gaul fing alles an. Neu ab den 70er Jahren: Bestsellermarketing. In: Börsenblatt für den deutschen Buchhandel 79 v. 2.10.1998, pp. 29–33.
Lectures
"Consistency of Interculturality. Awareness distant from Utopia, Dystopia and Atopy?". AEMI-Konferenz "Challenges of Contemporary Migration", Gdynia / Polen, October 3-6, 2018.
“‘Germany for Beginners’. Discourses of a German national self-image in the context of an Exhibition.” AEMI-Konferenz “Where we belong – Borders, ethnicity and identity”, Karlstad / Schweden, October 2-6, 2013.
„Forschung, Erkenntnisgewinn und -Transfer am Zentrum für Interkulturelle Studien.“ Wissenschaftscluster „‚10 Jahre ZAK‘ – Wissen schaf(f)t(s)Austausch“, Karlsruhe, November 30 – December 1, 2012.“
Function and structure of an Interdisciplinary Research Platform at Mainz University: The Center for Intercultural Studies”. AEMI-Konferenz “Migration Studies, Information and Communication Technologies”, Bilbao / Spanien, September 29 – October 2, 2010.
Organizaton of conferences (selection)
Opening Conference CEDITRAA, July 8/9, 2021.
Perspektiven der Interkulturalität. Forschungsfelder eines umstrittenen Begriffs (20 Jahre ZIS - Anniversary), November 9/10, 2017.
Symposium Transnational American Studies, February 5/6, 2016.
Conference "ACADEMIC MOBILITY – CHALLENGES OF INTERNATIONALIZATION", June 26-28, 2014.
Symposium Weltliteratur interkulturell, May 14, 2014.
Presentation Series „Publikationen Interkultureller Forschung“ WS 2009/2010.
Interkulturalität – Das Konzept der Zukunft, June 15/16, 2007.
KULTURTRANSFER, July 12-14, 2006.
Further Events/Projects (Selection)
Annual Program regarding ZIS-Projects for the Mainz Science Fair of JGU in front of the municipal Theater, (2002–2013).
Night of the Profs – ZIS. rayon culturel – cultural lightning – kulturelles Feuerwerk -"Kulturelle Globalisierung", June 2011, Municipal Theater.
Kültür alakart – Kulturwoche, May 3-9, 2010, Frankfurter Hof, Mainz City Center.
Interkulturelles Fest for JGU, Forum der Begegnung (yearly, 2007–2009), Foyer/ ReWi, Mainz Campus.
Memberships
Internationale Gutenberg-Gesellschaft in Mainz e.V.
Association of European Migration Institutions / AEMI
Alumni des Instituts für Buchwissenschaft der JGU Mainz
Further Projects
Kontemplation I / Picture Exhibition, Okt 2012 – Feb 2013 (VITIS, Wiesbaden).