This Vici grant will allow the researchers to conduct research and set up their own research group for the next five years. In total, the NWO is awarding 34 Vici grants this year. The recipients from Radboud University and Radboudumc are:
Civic fictions: Modelling book-reader interactions in the Age of Revolution, c. 1760-1830
Alicia Montoya, Radboud University
Ever since Plato, thinkers have asked what fiction does in society. Does reading fiction make people more empathic, or help them work through trauma? Does fiction contribute to citizenship and community-building? Although philosophers and literary theorists have long debated these questions, there are few historical sources to test their hypotheses. New methods are therefore needed to make the sources we do have, such as library lending records or catalogues of private libraries, speak to us. In this project, a team of cultural historians will develop innovative computational methods to understand relations between fiction and citizenship in eighteenth-century, revolutionary Europe.
Second language acquisition in refugees: Effects of psychological trauma on linguistic and communicative skills
Mirjam Broersma, Radboud University
For refugees and other immigrants, acquiring the language of their new environment is vital. Psychological trauma might make that difficult. This project investigates Ukrainian refugees and Russian migrants in the Netherlands. It investigates whether memory problems and socio-emotional problems that often accompany trauma hinder acquisition of Dutch language and communication skills. It investigates which skills are affected, and whether that differs for children and adults. It investigates how social participation contributes to Dutch proficiency, and if social participation and Dutch proficiency in turn might help to cope with trauma. Finally, it offers recommendations for better language education for traumatised learners.
The spread of artemisinin resistance in Africa (SPARTAN)
Teun Bousema, Radboud University medical center
Treatment of malaria is only possible with effective drugs. Recently, African malaria parasites have developed resistance to artemisinins, the main antimalarial drugs. The SPARTAN project investigates which factors play a role in the spread of resistance and develops a simulation model to find the best strategy to prevent this spread.