The aim of the University Centre of Excellence IMSErt – Interacting Minds, Societies, Environments (Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toru?) is to go beyond the boundaries of traditionally, ideographically (descriptive) understood humanities and social sciences and move towards pioneering research, big data analysis, quantitative and experimental research focused on the nomothetical explanation of cultural processes (i.e. aiming at formulating regularities and laws). Reflection on humanities and social sciences blending seamlessly with natural and exact sciences and using modern technologies (including digital and experimental tools in humanities) will allow the implementation of innovative research projects.
The Centre implements research in such disciplines as linguistics, archaeology, psychology, history of knowledge, memory studies, social geography, environmental studies, economics, finance and management and others. Five leading themes have been identified:
• Past Environment, Societies and Cultures – Multidisciplinary Perspective (PAST):
• People, Space and Environment (PSE):
• Evolution of Communication Systems (EVO):
• Sustainable Development and the Society of the Future (FUTURE):
• Knowledge Complexity and Memory (KNOW):
The KNOW team works in two overlapping areas: broadly defined studies on knowledge and science – both historical and contemporary, including data science, data and knowledge visualization, science mapping, network analysis. In turn, the studies on memory, starting from strictly humanistic research, open up to issues related to neuroscience, medicine, psychology and psychiatry, cognitive science. In both aspects, the comparative approach is essential. The starting point is significant – the specificity of Central and Eastern Europe as an area different from both Euro-Atlantic centres and postcolonial non-European areas. We form a team that uses modern research tools, exceeding disciplinary and disciplinary constraints, focusing on problem-oriented research.
