Franziska Zirker

I am a doctoral candidate at the University of Marburg researching the politics of Covid-19 dashboards. Previously I have studied sociology and political science at the Universities of Marburg and Frankfurt and have been a visiting PhD student at the University of Edinburgh. I am the representative of the doctoral candidates on the board of the Collaborative Research Centre where I am employed and have participated in the organisation of our 2022 yearly conference. Previously, I have been active in student self-administration as the elected speaker of the women’s department of the Marburg Student Union.

My research passion lies in analysing technologies and the diverse social interests they are connected to, fostering broader discussions about how to support liveable world(s). In my teaching, I am committed to empowering students to explore technoscience and its social situations creatively beyond traditional written formats. EASST’s commitment to advancing interdisciplinary engagements with science and technology in relation to social and environmental challenges makes it a vital hub for enacting socioecological justice, and I would be excited to contribute to shaping the organisation’s future.

My aim, as a student representative on the EASST council, is to maintain and enhance support for graduate students and early career researchers. To inform my initiatives, I would first like to survey the needs and ideas of graduate students and ECRs. Inspired by successful models in other academic organizations, I envision implementing a mentorship program and dedicated workshops for ECRs, fostering a supportive community within EASST.