New resident of SAR at Villa Decius. 30.11.2023
We welcomed Dr Maryna Szoda - the new resident of the Scholars at Risk programme - to Krakow.
We welcome another resident of the Scholar at Risk (SAR) program, Belarusian-born researcher Maryna Shoda Ph.D. Maryna Szoda is an outstanding expert specializing in Belarusian philology, cultural studies, and literary translation.
The Villa Decius Institute for Culture, in cooperation with Jagiellonian University, is implementing the SAR Residency Program as part of the international Scholar at Risk network. IKWD offers a safe residence, to academics at risk of harassment and repression, for an academic semester and logistical support combined with a variety activities to engage in the life of the Krakow academic community and promote their scientific and research activities in Poland.
The scholarship stay in Krakow will last until February 2024, during which Maryna Szoda Ph.D. will continue her academic work and establish cooperation with other researchers, not only from the local university community but also internationally, thanks to the cooperation with Jagiellonian University.
During the academic semester, Maryna Szoda will conduct consultations and lectures on mythologization and mythopoetry in literature, cultural semiotics, Belarusian literature in European cultural contexts, and translation studies and literary translation.
Academic freedom is not only at the core of the idea of the university, but also of democratic societies. Authoritarian regimes often regard academics as a major challenge to their power. When academics are threatened by discrimination, persecution or violence, not only individual lives and careers are at risk, but also the future of the university as a global truth-seeking community based on open scientific debate that is driven by a diversity of ideas, people, and perspectives. I am delighted that we can welcome our colleague from Minsk to our university - says Professor Beata Kowalska, Advocate for Academic Rights and Values (UJ representative at SAR).
For more than 20 years, Villa Decius has constantly offered the opportunity to continue literary and, since 2018, scientific work to outstanding artists who, having left their place of origin, continue their work abroad, often - in exile. The works that are produced during these fellowships are important for the development of science, the strengthening of democratic values, the maintenance of national identities and the establishment of international relations. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the SAR Network, Jagiellonian University, and our guest Maryna Szoda. – emphasises Dominika Kasprowicz, Ph.D., Professor at Jagiellonian University, Director of the Villa Decius Institute for Culture.
The Villa Decius Institute for Culture, in cooperation with Jagiellonian University, is implementing the SAR Residency Program as part of the international Scholar at Risk network. IKWD offers a safe residence, to academics at risk of harassment and repression, for an academic semester and logistical support combined with a variety activities to engage in the life of the Krakow academic community and promote their scientific and research activities in Poland.
The scholarship stay in Krakow will last until February 2024, during which Maryna Szoda Ph.D. will continue her academic work and establish cooperation with other researchers, not only from the local university community but also internationally, thanks to the cooperation with Jagiellonian University.
During the academic semester, Maryna Szoda will conduct consultations and lectures on mythologization and mythopoetry in literature, cultural semiotics, Belarusian literature in European cultural contexts, and translation studies and literary translation.
Academic freedom is not only at the core of the idea of the university, but also of democratic societies. Authoritarian regimes often regard academics as a major challenge to their power. When academics are threatened by discrimination, persecution or violence, not only individual lives and careers are at risk, but also the future of the university as a global truth-seeking community based on open scientific debate that is driven by a diversity of ideas, people, and perspectives. I am delighted that we can welcome our colleague from Minsk to our university - says Professor Beata Kowalska, Advocate for Academic Rights and Values (UJ representative at SAR).
For more than 20 years, Villa Decius has constantly offered the opportunity to continue literary and, since 2018, scientific work to outstanding artists who, having left their place of origin, continue their work abroad, often - in exile. The works that are produced during these fellowships are important for the development of science, the strengthening of democratic values, the maintenance of national identities and the establishment of international relations. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the SAR Network, Jagiellonian University, and our guest Maryna Szoda. – emphasises Dominika Kasprowicz, Ph.D., Professor at Jagiellonian University, Director of the Villa Decius Institute for Culture.
Maryna Szoda
Born in 1973 in the city of Pruzhany, Belarus, Maryna graduated with a degree in philology from Belarusian University in Minsk. She defended her doctoral thesis entitled "Myth and Mythmaking in the Creative System of William Butler Yeats". From 2000 to 2021, she worked at the Department of Cultural Studies of the Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies at Belarusian State University. In 2022/23, she worked as a visiting professor at the European Humanities University in Vilnius. In 2012-2016, she participated in meetings and workshops of the International Translator Seminar “Translators Without Borders”. She translates from Polish and Ukrainian. She was awarded the Prajdzidzishevt prize for her translation of the story "Weiser Dawidek" by Pawel Huelle (2014). She has translated works including Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz's "Matka Joanna od Aniołów," Paweł Huelle's "Weiser Dawidek," "Mercedes-Benz," Slawomir Mrożek's "Opowiadania" (Short Stories), Olga Tokarczuk's "Prawiek i inne czasy" (Age of Dawn and Other Times), "Prowadź swój plug przez kości umarłych" (Drive Your Plug Through the Dice of the Dead), Czesław Miłosz's "Rodzinna Europa" (Family Europe), Janusz Korczak's "Kajtuś czarodziej" (Kajtuś czarodziej), A. Burzyńska, M.P. Markowski's "Theories of 20th Century Literature," etc.
Her academic interests are theory and history of myth, history of Belarusian literature in the context of world culture, translation studies.
She currently lives in Minsk.
Her academic interests are theory and history of myth, history of Belarusian literature in the context of world culture, translation studies.
She currently lives in Minsk.
Scholars at Risk (SAR) Network
An international network of academic institutions and individuals whose mission is to protect persecuted members of the university community and promote academic freedom. By organizing temporary workplaces at partner institutions, SAR ensures the safety of female and male academics at risk, also providing counselling services to scholars and host institutions, organizing campaigns in support of imprisoned or repressed male and female researchers, and monitoring attacks on the academic community around the world.
Each year, SAR provides shelter and assistance to more than 300 threatened scholars worldwide. The network has 507 universities, colleges, and associations in 39 countries. Jagiellonian University and Villa Decius joined the network as the first organizations in Poland.
More about SAR:
https://willadecjusza.pl/en/scholars-at-risk-sar-network-residence
Each year, SAR provides shelter and assistance to more than 300 threatened scholars worldwide. The network has 507 universities, colleges, and associations in 39 countries. Jagiellonian University and Villa Decius joined the network as the first organizations in Poland.
More about SAR:
https://willadecjusza.pl/en/scholars-at-risk-sar-network-residence