Trans Internet-Zeitschrift für Kulturwissenschaften 2. Nr. November 1997

Resolution of the Participants in the
"European Literature and Linguistics" Conference
held from September 22nd to 26th, 1997
in Innsbruck

 The full significance of cultural science work, especially in the literature and linguistics sector, has not yet been sufficiently recognized. Cultural scientists must therefore accept the challenge of today's society with increased self-confidence, and be more courageous in their endeavors towards a definition of a new self-understanding of their responsibility to society.

In order to be equal to this task of accompanying contemporary processes by means of cultural science research, the participants in the conference regard the following as essential requirements:

1. A re-evaluation of scientific processes from a historical viewpoint is indispensable if concepts for future research are to be developed.

2. The application of transdisciplinary methods is recommended, in order to be able to investigate international processes. Furthermore, it is suggested that new scientific institutes be subsidized and that existing scientific institutes be restructured in such a way that they meet the requirements of investigating cultural processes.

3. The Internet is considered to be a boon to the cultural sciences. However, the scientists must develop the requisite skill parameters (in particular as regards the use of characters), in order for the Internet to fulfil its role as international communications medium. Archiving (and thus quotability) are also to be identified as problem areas.

4. The introduction of new technologies is indispensable for more efficient scientific communication. Therefore, it is necessary that the required resources be made available internationally.

5. Universities should be regarded as scientific academies not only by university professors themselves, but also by politicians and government representatives. The universities, as well as other institutes of cultural sciences, have become custodians of an important democratic-political task in these times of transition, the non-fulfilment of which could well cause societal tensions and conflicts to escalate.

6. Since the 19th century, compilations of data have been organized on a national basis. Unless data bases are interlinked appropriately (for which purpose the Internet is the ideal medium), it cannot be expected that the fragmentation process within the scientific sector can be surmounted. Cooperation between the sciences and information systems is indispensable for well-founded research.

7. According to their level of scientific prominence, the cultural sciences must be subsidized by the competent EU departments explicitly as having the same status as other sciences within the scope of the European Union.

8. The responsible politicians of the EU, European countries and UNESCO are to be called upon to create a forum together with the cultural scientists for the purpose of realizing the above-mentioned projects.

9. In accordance with international research subsidization practice, the funds made available by the EU should be administered by the scientists themselves.

 Innsbruck, dated September 25th, 1997

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