CITS Hosts LinguaLab Youth Research Conference: Words Matter
Last week, the CITS served as the venue for the LinguaLab: Words Matter school research conference. The event was organized under the auspices of the Pre-University Project at Astrakhan Tatishchev State University.
The conference gathered budding researchers passionate about linguistics, intercultural communication, and modern media. Opening remarks were delivered by Alla Kalendr, the Project Coordinator, and Nadezhda Emelyanova, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, who both emphasized the vital role of language studies in today’s digital landscape and the importance of fostering scientific thinking in school students.
A key highlight of the event was the panel discussion titled Linguistic Polylogue. CITS specialists alongside faculty members from the Faculty of Foreign Languages engaged with the participants to explore the transformation of language norms, the impact of new media on speech, and the role of linguistic identity in intercultural dialogue.
Following the plenary session, the conference split into thematic tracks where students presented over 40 research projects. The presentations covered a diverse array of topics, including the influence of subtitles and internet memes on content perception, storytelling in blogs, gaming jargon, and the analysis of advertising and media texts. Applied projects were also showcased, ranging from slang dictionaries to the development of digital educational materials.
Events like LinguaLab strengthen the bridge between the university and local schools. CITS continues to be the primary hub for career exploration within the linguistics stream. Here, students immerse themselves in an authentic academic and professional environment, execute their own research, and take a well-informed step toward their future career paths and educational trajectories.
We are confident that LinguaLab: Words Matter will become a cherished tradition, inspiring new generations of participants to pursue scientific inquiry and discovering fresh talent in the worlds of linguistics, translation, and intercultural communication.