AUBG 19th Student-faculty Conference "Fellowship of the Mind" 2025

Saturday Apr 26, 2025, 8:00 AM → 11:59 PM Europe/Sofia

BAC 2nd floor and ABF Theater (AUBG)

Mirko Tarulli (Associate Professor)

AUBG 19th Student-faculty Conference "Fellowship of the Mind" 2025

 

 

Welcome to AUBG "Fellowship of the Mind" 2025

The goal of the "Fellowship of the Mind" Conference is to provide a forum for discussion and dissemination of research activities and to promote interaction and collaboration among students and faculty. The events satisfy accreditation standards in Bulgaria for more visibility of student and faculty research.

The 19th edition of the "Fellowship of the Mind" will take place on Saturday, 26 April 2025. It continues the AUBG Student-faculty Research Conference tradition which dates back to 2007. For more information regarding the previous conferences, follow this link.               
The registration is open for all - whether you are presenter or listener, please use the link below to register:

https://indico-cos.aubg.edu/event/4/registrations/3/

If you have additional questions please email Prof. Magdalena Bernaciak (Department of Politics and European Studies), at mbernaciak@aubg.edu

We are looking forward to seeing you at the conference on Saturday 26 April, 2025!

AUBG's Academic Research and Creative Activities Committee (ARCAC) team 

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8:30 AM → 9:00 AM Registration

9:00 AM → 10:30 AM Morning Talks: Business

Convener: Prof. Daniel Adsett

9:00 AM Image Manipulation in Marketing

This research paper examines the ethics of image manipulation in marketing and tries to unravel problems that arise in the intersection between deception, deceptive marketing, and advertising. The project attempts to articulate a view for distinguishing between permissible and impermissible approaches to image manipulation from a rule-consequentialism perspective. Particular attention will be paid to specific cases of image manipulation and the role of AI in furthering deceptive marketing.

Speaker: Adela Vrapi

9:30 AM The ‘Glass Ceiling Syndrome’: An Examination of the Socio-cultural, Psychological, and Organisational Barriers that Hinder the Advancement of Women

The term “Glass Ceiling Effect” was introduced to the global public in 1978 during the management consultant Marilyn Loden’s speech to address the invisible barriers that keep women from reaching higher job positions. (100 Women: “Why I Invented the Glass Ceiling Phrase,” 2017) Many professionals have conducted studies on the factors that limit women’s prosperity and how the usage of the term “glass ceiling effect” has continuity throughout the years. In this research, three main obstacles that prevent women from climbing high on the corporate ladder and advancing in their careers were explored for the period between the years 2014 and 2024, including how those obstacles vary cross-culturally and what progress has been made in order to minimise them. A mixed method was used to compare females from Western countries (Europe, USA and Canada) to females from Eastern countries (Europe, Middle East and Asia) and how socio-cultural and psychological factors, as well as organisational barriers, contribute to the severity of gender inequality among the two compared groups of countries. The study results proved that despite the widespread awareness of the discrimination and sanctions that have been made, there is still a high percentage of countries where those factors hinder the advancement of females. Eastern countries showed a remaining tendency toward gender restriction and prejudgment, which, respectively, resulted in a higher percentage of women faced with “glass ceiling syndrome”. This research sample of three women with more than 30 years of work experience in Bulgaria highlighted that the socio-cultural barriers were the most fundamental, giving rise to and mixing with the psychological ones. The organisational barriers and legal policies are reported to be applied and followed in most cases among Bulgarian business sectors, supporting women’s advancement in their careers and protecting them when needed. In addition, despite Bulgaria being an Eastern European Country, it proved to be more tolerant and supportive of the women who chose to advance and reach higher managerial positions than their neighbouring Eastern European countries.

Speaker: Hristina Gencheva

10:00 AM Human Rights and International Business

This senior project considers the highly debated issue of cultural relativism in international corporate ethics, highlighting how cultural, social, and economic factors create opposing ethical norms in different nations. It briefly expresses how the origin and evolution of colonialism and capitalism throughout history have impacted these factors. In addition, the study addresses the challenges and responsibilities that international enterprises face when managing cross-cultural conflicts while adhering to universal human rights. The analysis focuses on several case studies, for example, Apple and Foxconn’s abusive workplace environment, excessive overtime, and unfair remuneration. This example highlights both companies’ tensions between universal ethical norms and national labor policies. Moreover, the project supports the establishment of enhanced transparency, wider international cooperation, and systemic reforms to ensure that profit remains subordinate to ethical considerations. It also describes these issues and gives certain recommendations and potential solutions for any actions that might promote ethical decision-making across various cultural contexts.

Speaker: Kalina Grancharova (AUBG student)

BUS4090_Human_Rights_and_International_Business_Abstract.docx

9:00 AM → 10:30 AM Morning Talks: History and Civilizations

Convener: Prof. Markus Wien

9:00 AM Revisiting the Microhistory of the Golden Age of Piracy

This paper examines the complex legacy of Captain William Kidd, a figure historically labeled a pirate but whose actions blur the lines between piracy and privateering. Through a detailed exploration of Kidd’s biography, including his commission by the British Crown and notable ventures such as the capture of the Quedagh Merchant, the paper challenges the simplistic portrayal of Kidd as a notorious pirate. It delves into his 1701 trial, highlighting the political motivations behind his prosecution and the lack of due process he received. Drawing on the pamphlet The Arraignment, Tryal, and Condemnation of Captain William Kidd, alongside modern historiographical interpretations, the study reveals how narratives of piracy were shaped by legal ambiguities, shifting imperial policies, and popular myth-making. Ultimately, the paper argues that Kidd’s legacy lies at the intersection of law, legend, and imperial ambition, offering insight into the broader cultural and legal frameworks of the so-called “Golden Age of Piracy.” By re-evaluating primary sources and scholarly debates, this analysis repositions Kidd as a misunderstood actor whose story prompts deeper questions about authority, loyalty, and historical memory.

Speaker: Bianca Garcia (American University In Bulgaria)

Revisiting at the Microhistory of the Golden Age of Piracy (Abstract) - Bianca Garcia.docx

9:30 AM The Incorporation of History into Video Games using Assassin's Creed as a Case Study

Key words: History, Video Games, Assassin's Creed, Historical Accuracy, Historiography, Game Studies, Fiction, Education

As digital media and technology evolves, video games have emerged not only as entertainment, but also as platforms for historical interpretation and engagement. Unlike traditional historical narratives, video games allow players to navigate, interact, and even influence reconstructed pasts, offering a new form of historical storytelling. Rather than passively receiving historical content, players actively engage with complex environments, making decisions that often diverge or reshape historical events. This thesis explores how historical video games construct meaning through surreal visual design, story-telling, and game mechanics, rather than through traditional academic narratives. The blurred boundaries between fact, fiction, and gameplay, highlight how video games contribute to a more decentralized yet personalized understanding of the past. In doing so, games like Assassin’s Creed challenge linear, traditional presentations of history and open the floor for alternative perspectives. These new perspectives can revolutionize technology and provide new forms of education.

Speaker: Nikolay Pavlov (AUBG)

Abstract Conference.pdf

10:00 AM Policing the sphere of influence: the USSR in Hungary and the USA in Guatemala

The 1950s were a time of high tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. During this decade at the dawn of the Cold War, the United States executed a regime change operation in Guatemala, and the Soviet Union invaded Hungary to depose its government. Both interventions were instances of a global superpower punishing a client state within its sphere of influence for trying to chart a neutral course. Using a case study approach, this thesis compares and contrasts these interventions as analogous phenomena. Finally, it questions the degree to which these formed a template for regime change interventions later in the Cold War.

Speaker: William Haslam (AUBG)

9:00 AM → 10:30 AM Morning Talks: MAT/SCI/COS

Convener: Prof. Mirko Tarulli (American University in Bulgaria)

9:00 AM Haldane Spheres

The modern framework of the Quantum Hall Effect (QHE) relies on the old Landau problem. Landau studied the quantum problem of nonrelativistic electrons moving in the background of a magnetic field transversal to a plane. The energy spectrum is composed of bands with infinite degeneracies, called Landau levels. An alternative spherical geometry of the Landau problem was introduced by Duncan Haldane who concentrated on the lowest spherical Landau level. Much later Martin Greiter introduced higher spherical Landau levels.

We investigate the mapping between the Landau levels in spherical and planar geometry. In both geometries we have mutually commuting oscillator algebras raising and lowering the energy and angular momentum of an electron. On the Haldane spheres it is crucial that we have a pair of two mutually commuting ladder $SU(2)$-operators, one changing the energy, the other - the angular momentum. Therefore, the Hilbert space of the energy eigenfunctions living on Haldane spheres carries structures of a $SU(2)\times SU(2)$-representation.

We show that in the planar limit the monopole spherical harmonics yield the planar Landau functions. The contraction of the energy and angular momentum oscillator $\mathfrak{su}(2)$ Lie algebras acting on the Haldane spheres yields the Heisenberg oscillator algebras on the plane. This has potential applications to numerical simulations of the fractional Hall effect and the Haldane sphere model for multilayer graphene.

Keywords: Landau Levels, Monopole Harmonics, Quantum Hall Effect, Oscillator Algebras.

Speaker: Lyuboslav Gigov (Student)

FellowshipOfTheMind.pdf

PHY_Senior_Project_Gigov_2024.pdf

9:30 AM Novel statistical analysis of Progression-Free Survival times in certain classes of tumor angiogenesis.

In the framework of cancer therapy optimization, which is crucial in clinical oncology, we present a numerical and statistical analysis of a recent class of mathematical models for tumor progression, using data from pools of phase II colon cancer patients treated with metronomic chemotherapy. This is a spin-off project from a larger ongoing research activity aimed at testing these cancer evolution models. Our specific contribution here is to monitor the effects of specific parameters from the system of differential equations constituting the evolution model on the Progression-Free Survival times, including the parameters that model the daily therapy dose.

Speakers: Gjorgi Kostadinovski , Kaloyan Stoychev

10:00 AM Kolmogorov-Arnold Graph Neural Networks

Graph neural networks, which until recently were mainly based on multilayer perceptron, have been successfully applied to various tasks involving molecular property prediction, such as formation energy, enthalpy, and solubility. A new type of machine learning model, Kolmogorov-Arnold Network (KAN), inspired by the theorem of the same name from real analysis, outperformed many traditional models in the tasks of graph processing including those in cheminformatics. However, these studies have focused mainly on organic chemistry datasets or small inorganic molecules, neglecting tasks based on large inorganic molecules.
Hence, the goal of our project is (1) to understand the mathematical foundations of KAN in general and in graph networks, (2) to replicate the results of the existing research, and (3) to attempt to apply a graph neural network architecture based on KAN to a dataset of inorganic nanomaterials. This is being done in the form of a two-semester senior thesis in mathematics, which is currently in progress. So far, we have (1) explored the most popular models for graph-neural networks, (2) analyzed the mathematical framework behind KAN, including the convergence guarantees for approximation of non-continuously differentiable functions, and (3) replicated some graph neural network architectures based on KAN.

Speaker: Nikita Volzhin

KAN.pptx

10:30 AM → 11:00 AM Break: Coffe Break

11:00 AM → 12:30 PM Noon Talks: Economics

Convener: Prof. Jeffrey Nilsen

11:00 AM The Banking Crisis of Lebanon in 2019: Reasons and Recovery

On March 7, 2020, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced the country’s inability to repay its Eurobond debt of $1.2 billion. Two other Eurobonds of $1.3 billion in total were maturing in the months forward. This is how one of the most severe economic disasters in modern history began in the tiny Mediterranean country, triggered by more than two decades of financial mismanagement and unsustainable financial engineering aimed to artificially boost the foreign exchange reserves inflow. The crisis itself had a direct impact on the country’s banking sector, leading to commercial banks closing their gates to prevent the worsening of the situation. The paper examines how the currency peg, the banking system with particular attention on the Lebanese central bank (Banque du Liban), and the financial engineering impacted the state’s financial stability and led to the outbreak of the conflict. To dive deeper into the impact the foreign exchange liquidity had on the country, a quantitative analysis has been conducted to understand whether variables such as sovereign exposure, capital inflows, or interest rate differentials had an impact on the country’s financial stability in terms of foreign currency. Finally, the paper explores the two potential solutions provided by the International Monetary Fund: establishing a currency board or converting a full dollarization and analyzing them in accordance with the Lebanese financial setting.

Key words: Lebanon, banking crisis, financial engineering, pegging policy, foreign reserves liquidity

Speaker: Joana Mihova

11:30 AM House Price Return Volatility Patterns in Bulgaria: GARCH and EGARCH Approach

Many studies have been conducted on the volatility behavior of financial assets, yet relatively few have been conducted on the volatility patterns of house price returns, especially with a focus on emerging economies in Eastern Europe. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the volatility patterns of house price returns in Bulgaria. This thesis employs quarterly data on national-level house price returns from 2003: Q2 to 2024: Q3. Several models are estimated to capture volatility dynamics – Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (ARCH), Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH), and Exponential Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (EGARCH) specifications. The results indicate that house price returns in Bulgaria exhibit volatility clustering patterns, such that periods of high (low) volatility are followed by high (low) volatility. This has important implications for homeowners and investors, as assets that exhibit volatility clustering patterns are prone to higher losses during volatile periods. To further investigate the volatility dynamics, four extended models are estimated to account for macroeconomic factors on expected returns and conditional variance of house prices. This study offers valuable insights for households, investors, and policymakers, emphasizing the need for better risk assessment and macroprudential regulation in the face of real estate price fluctuations.

Speaker: Teodora Kusheva

12:00 PM Natural Disasters, Consumption and Climate Change Nexus: The Role of Green Technologies

We examine the effect that higher natural disaster frequency has on economic outcomes.
Even if there is clear evidence that natural disaster incidents are not only going to be
more frequent but will also start affecting a wider pool of countries, research has not
yet analyzed the economic impact of the interaction between climate change and more
frequent extreme rare events. With this study, we try to unveil the mechanisms through
which natural disasters and climate change are interconnected, as well as provide policy
insights regarding the adoption of greener inputs, in the form of green capital. Our findings suggest that raising temperatures are expected to negatively affect consumption as well as increase debt. We also show that under “green” technology adaptation, countries are projected to achieve higher levels of consumption and welfare.

Speaker: Nikos Fatouros (AUBG)

11:00 AM → 12:30 PM Noon Talks: History and Civilizations II

Convener: Prof. Simeon Simeonov

11:00 AM News from Home: The Irish-American Press and the Development of Transatlantic Nationalism Among Irish Immigrants and Their American-Born Descendants

This research examines the development of Irish-American journalism as a vital platform for identity construction, political mobilization, and transatlantic communication within the 19th-century Irish diaspora. Focusing on the period from the early waves of Irish immigration through and beyond the Great Famine to the end of the nineteenth century, the study highlights the emergence and evolution of Irish-American periodicals as unifying cultural and informational spaces. These newspapers not only fostered a shared sense of community among geographically scattered Irish immigrants across the United States but also reflected and reinforced the ideological currents of the Irish nationalist movement. A central theme of the research is the transformative influence of technological advancements — particularly the transatlantic telegraph — which allowed for the rapid and cost-effective circulation of news between Ireland and Irish-American communities. This connectivity enhanced both cultural solidarity and political coordination on both sides of the Atlantic. Through a case study of the Northwestern Standard and its later rebranding as the Irish Standard, the research illustrates how these explicitly nationalist-oriented publications served as both mirrors and molders of Irish-American social, religious, and political life. Ultimately, this work underscores the essential role of the ethnic press in uniting fragmented immigrant communities and shaping their collective engagement with both American civic life and the cause of Irish self-determination.

Key words: Irish-American press, Irish diaspora, 19th-century immigration, Irish-American identity, transatlantic communication, Irish nationalism, transatlantic nationalism, Irish-American journalism, Northwestern Standard, Irish Standard, cultural preservation, Catholic press, Irish-American political activism, Minnesotan press, immigrants in Minnesota.

Speaker: Anastasiia Komarova

Anastasiia Komarova - Abstract for the conference.docx

11:30 AM Abstract: The Scholarly Debate on Albanian Ethnogenesis

This paper explores the long-standing academic debate over Albanian ethnogenesis, the formation and emergence of an ethnic group. A central focus is the Illyrian Myth – the widely held idea that modern Albanians are direct descendants of the ancient Illyrians, often framed as the official national origin narrative of the Albanian people. This research draws on and critically frames a range of historical, linguistic, and genetic sources to compare opposing views on the Illyrian Myth spanning from the Enlightenment period to the modern day. Methods include detailed textual analysis of linguistic, historic, and historiographical sources alongside population-genetics studies. Such a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach – largely absent from existing academia – enables this paper to evaluate and cross-examine long-standing narratives on Albanian ethnogenesis with emerging genetic data to offer a more nuanced perspective on the origin of the Albanians. Studies suggest regional genetic continuity both in Albanians and nearby Indo-European groups. Linguistic and cultural arguments, however, remain divided: some scholars support the Illyrian Myth while others trend towards multicultural origin theories. This paper brings together this linguistic and cultural debate with recent genomic studies to encourage further research on this niche yet increasingly relevant topic – one of interest not only to Albanians and their neighbors, but also to professionals across disciplines. By tracing the development of the debate across time periods and academic fields, this paper highlights how origin theories are shaped not only by evidence but also by evolving scholarly frameworks and national narratives.

Speaker: Alesandro Milosevic (American University in Bulgaria)

12:00 PM The Exclusion of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Women from the California Woman Suffrage Movement from 1890 to 1911

Since the founding of the United States, women from minority groups have experienced marginalization that transcends the experiences of both White women and men of color. The woman suffrage movement in California picked up expeditiously in the 1890s, with a referendum on woman suffrage almost passing on the ballot in 1896, and White women achieving their goal in 1911. What did that mean to the Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) women who were actively left out or pushed away from White women’s clubs and organizations in the Golden State? Mainstream suffrage history centers white, upper-class women, and often excludes the story and the contributions of BIPOC women who challenged the dual oppressions of racism and sexism. It is an especially unexplored area of study for California’s study of woman suffrage. There are many Black women who played pivotal roles such as Hettie B. Tilghman and Naomi Anderson, among many other, through clubs established specifically for WOC in the state. Similarly, Latina suffragettes like María de López bridged linguistic divides by translating suffrage materials into Spanish, empowering the Latina community after the U.S.’ acquisition of California to the Union. Asian American and Pacific Islander women confronted deeply rooted xenophobia and stereotypes, such as Tye Leung Schulze, the first Chinese-American woman to vote in the United States. Native American women, despite inspiring early white suffragists through their tribes’ matriarchal societies, remained largely excluded from suffrage due to systemic displacement and erasure. This chapter focuses on how BIPOC women formed their own organizations and strategies to advocate for suffrage and broader civil rights as well as the obstacles that hindered them. It reveals the pitfalls of the California suffrage movement, showing how it was not only by the unity of White women, but also by the exclusion and the relentless pursuit of enfranchisement by those pushed to society’s margins.

Speaker: Gabriela Tsvetanova (American University in Bulgaria)

Fellowship of the Mind - The Exclusion of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Women from the California Woman Suffrage Movement.pptx

11:00 AM → 1:00 PM Noon Talks: Politics and European Studies

Convener: Prof. Ilya Levine

11:00 AM The Limits of Attractiveness: Small Nations on NATO's Eastern Flank Facing American Uncertainty

This paper explores the strategic challenges faced by small NATO member states on the Alliance’s eastern flank—specifically Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Latvia—in light of increasing uncertainty regarding the United States' long-term commitment to European security. These nations, part of the Bucharest Nine, have historically pursued a “logic of attractiveness” by aligning closely with the U.S. and NATO in hopes of securing deterrence against Russian aggression. However, the evolving stance of the Trump administration—marked by skepticism toward NATO and openness to re-engagement with Russia—has raised concerns over the reliability of American security guarantees.

Through a comparative analysis of recent national security strategies, the paper illustrates how these countries perceive threats, define strategic priorities, and balance their dependence on NATO with limited efforts at internal or European-based hedging. While all four emphasize the Russian threat and the primacy of NATO, they differ in areas such as defense modernization, societal resilience, and threat prioritization. Notably, none of the strategies present a viable alternative to NATO, and the EU is largely viewed as a secondary, complementary actor rather than a primary security provider.

The study argues that this over-reliance on the U.S. exposes a strategic vulnerability, especially in the face of a potential American withdrawal or diminished role in European security affairs. It concludes that while internal consensus on security exists in Estonia and Latvia, political fragmentation in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic further complicates a unified response. The paper calls for a reevaluation of current strategic approaches, encouraging small states to explore greater diversification within transatlantic frameworks and to consider deeper European defense integration as a potential safeguard against geopolitical uncertainty.

Speaker: Prof. JEAN CROMBOIS (AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN BULGARIA)

TEXTMONTREALENGLIHS23.docx

11:30 AM Protected Areas in India and the United States: A Comparison of Environmental Policy in the East and West

Protected Areas (PAs) are an integral part of the current conservation framework. This paper examines the effectiveness of PAs in two contrasting contexts—India and the United States—focusing on their ability to diminish biodiversity loss while being sensitive to Indigenous and local communities. The study establishes that though PAs are an ineffective policy overall due to the ‘man vs nature’ dichotomy upon which they are built; they are more effective in the USA than India. This is due to various factors: socio-economically, India’s high population density and heavy reliance on agriculture place greater pressure on ecosystems. Also, India has a larger population of Indigenous people that (recently and currently) face conservation-induced displacement, unlike in the US where indigenous displacement was historic and colonially induced. Ecologically, biodiversity in the USA is concentrated in smaller, isolated pockets, allowing for more efficient enforcement of PAs, whereas India’s biodiversity is more widespread. The paper begins by setting the ecological and socio-economic contexts within which PAs have been established in both countries, before moving to a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of PAs.

Keywords: Protected Areas, Environmental Policy, Indigenous Communities, Environmental Conservation, Indigenous Displacement, Biodiversity, Biodiversity Conservation, Biodiversity Hotspots, India, United States

Speaker: Aprajita Jayaram (American University in Bulgaria)

12:00 PM Fifty shades of brown: Exploring Bulgaria’s Slow Energy Transition

This paper seeks to account for the slow pace of coal phaseout in Bulgaria, EU’s poorest member state. Building on the Jessopian conception of state and recent scholarship on electoral risks of environmental policies, it argues that Bulgaria’s coal-based economic regime has persisted thanks to the continued involvement of its ‘brown’ state, which has subsidized coal mines and coal-fired power plants, generated discourses in their support and granted privileged access to actors representing the sector. Facing an exceptionally high frequency of electoral contests, the country’s political leadership have shunned challenging the status quo. Politicians’ idleness and administrative inaction have further boosted the determination of pro-coal social forces to defy the decarbonization agenda, resulting in considerable delays – and sometimes even reversals – of Bulgaria’s coal exit process. The paper posits that similar structural and political foundations could explain carbon inertia in other post-socialist EU member states, which in turn poses the risk of a ‘multi-speed’ Europe in regard to coal phaseout and climate change mitigation policies.

Speaker: Magdalena Bernaciak (Department of Politics and European Studies, American University in Bulgaria)

12:30 PM Behind the Headlines: Investigating Media Portrayals of Israel's Humanitarian Diplomacy Mission in Morocco

Abstract

This thesis investigates how Israel’s humanitarian assistance to Morocco following the 2023 earthquake was presented to the public through media coverage and elite discourse. In the context of the 2020 normalization of diplomatic ties between Morocco and Israel, this study analyzes whether humanitarian diplomacy can serve not only as a crisis management tool but also a soft power channel to enhance image-building.

Drawing on a qualitative analysis of news articles and elite statements made by political and institutional elites, this research explores the narratives emerging around the aid, the framing of Israel’s assistance, and any tensions which seem to be present in the coverage of the aid. By focusing on the intersection between diplomacy, humanitarianism, and soft power potential, this study aims to contribute to future discussions about how international aid is perceived and interpreted in politically fragile contexts.

Speaker: Maha Afif

1:00 PM → 2:00 PM Lunch Break

2:00 PM → 3:30 PM Afternoon Talks: Modern Languages and Cultures

Convener: Prof. Senem Konedareva

2:00 PM Guide for students in the Erasmus program in Lille

The senior project Guide for students in the Erasmus program in Lille aims to assist students who will go through an Erasmus exchange program in Lille, France. It offers practical, cultural, and academic support to deal with the issues international students may experience when going to a new place. The blog that I created includes many interactive and pictorial content with easy movement to practical ideas like how to find accommodation, transport, blend in and study at the Université Catholique de Lille. Based on personal experience and academic material, the guide discusses language barriers, culture shock, and survival skills among other issues. It also involves practical tools and recommendations focusing on the needs of the Erasmus students. In addition, by providing this information, the project intends to improve the experience of the exchange, make it less stressful and enable the students to integrate both academically and socially into a different culture.

Speaker: Kalina Grancharova (AUBG student)

2:30 PM The altar – A cultural symbol of the Vietnamese tradition of honoring the dead

This paper explores the Vietnamese tradition of honoring the dead, focusing on the central role of the altar and associated rituals. In Vietnam, death is not seen as an end, but as a transition to another realm where the soul continues to exist. This belief influences how Vietnamese people interact with the spiritual world, especially through practices like maintaining ancestral altars, celebrating death anniversaries, and offering food and symbolic gifts to wandering spirits.

The ancestral altar is found in almost every Vietnamese home and serves as a spiritual center where family members connect with their deceased loved ones. These altars are used during special occasions, holidays, or life events to seek blessings, express gratitude, and remember the legacy of previous generations. Death anniversaries, which are widely observed, provide opportunities not only to honor the deceased but also to bring extended families together, reinforcing family ties and a shared sense of heritage.

Beyond the family, Vietnamese people also show respect to spirits who have no one to care for them, especially during Ghost Month. Temporary public altars are set up outside homes with offerings for these wandering souls, based on the belief that these spirits still need food, shelter, and attention. This shows a broader cultural value of compassion and a strong sense of collective responsibility.

These practices, though spiritual, also have practical impacts. They support local crafts and small businesses that produce altars, incense, ceremonial items, and paper offerings. Many of these goods are handmade and use traditional methods, helping preserve Vietnamese craftsmanship and cultural knowledge.

Throughout the paper, the tradition of honoring the dead is shown not just as a religious or spiritual act, but as something that ties together family, community, economy, and national identity. In today’s fast-changing world, these practices continue to be passed down, especially by younger generations who see them as a way of staying connected to their roots. Overall, the paper highlights how a deep respect for the dead remains an important part of life in Vietnam.

Speaker: Ngan Ho (AUBG)

The altar – A cultural symbol of the Vietnamese tradition of honoring the dead.docx

3:00 PM The Chinese Culture: From Rituals to Leadership

One of the top countries in the world, China is a land with unique cultures and a long historical background. Chinese culture differs significantly from the Western culture with its collectivist mindset, orientation towards the group and hierarchical order. Our focus of artifacts from Chinese culture are Business culture, Philosophy and Traditional Chinese Medicine. We will discuss the core assumptions and values of Chinese business and their motivation towards building long term relationships based on mutual obligation (Guanxi). The philosophy of Confucious and its influence on morality and social relations of Chinese will be analyzed in order to understand and emphasize the country’s cultural values with its origin. Attained by their ancestors, the traditional medicine and well-being oriented rituals of the Chinese population are another artifact we want to remark on. We will explore traditional use of different sorts of herbs and their health benefits. We want to navigate our research to study how the rich cultural concepts and people’s mindsets contribute to the countries’ harmonious society and the economic success. We will also derive the implications of the classic Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions from each artifact that we touch upon.
The main purpose of our research is to explore the factors that have shaped Chinese culture the most, making China one of the most powerful economies in the world nowadays. As mentioned earlier, artifacts such as Business Culture, Philosophy and Traditional Health Practices contributing to both economical and sociocultural development of the country will be analyzed to help us understand the core values and beliefs of Chinese Culture. Moreover, we want to examine some examples of traditional medicine, most significantly the use of herbs on the well-being of Chinese people.

Speakers: Adriana Nashkova (AUBG) , Ms Sarangerel Ulziisaikhan (AUBG)

The Chinese Culture.pdf

2:00 PM → 3:30 PM Afternoon Talks: Philosophy and Psychology

Convener: Prof. Matthew Whoolery

2:00 PM Urgency Culture among university students

Abstract:

Urgency culture refers to the internalized pressure to act quickly, remain constantly productive, and respond immediately to external demands, often at the expense of more important tasks, long-term goals, and well-being. While this concept has not been examined in academic literature, related constructs such as time pressure, overstimulation, multitasking, and fear of missing out (FoMO) suggest its growing relevance in fast-paced environments like universities. This study investigates how urgency culture manifests in the daily experiences of students. Using a descriptive research design, a custom-developed 40-item Likert-scale questionnaire was administered to 105 undergraduate students at the American University in Bulgaria. The results revealed five main patterns: emotional side of urgency culture, urgency-based decision-making, achievement-driven FoMO, time scarcity and digital distraction. Students reported difficulty relaxing, a tendency to prioritize tasks that feel urg​ent over those that are important, and signs of cognitive overload. However, responses also indicated that urgency is context dependent as students were less likely to prioritize urgent demands over personal matters or long-term goals. These findings suggest that urgency culture is present within student demographics, however, its influence has limits.This study contributes to establishing urgency culture as an emerging academic concept and highlights the need for further research into its long-term psychological and social impacts.

Speaker: Maria Dzhupanova (American University in Bulgaria)

2:30 PM Philosophy of Desire: Liberation and Repression

I will focus on desire, mainly sexual desire, and explore three different frameworks, as presented by Sigmund Freud, Jacques Lacan and Felix Guattari. I will argue against the traditional framework of desire maintained by the philosopher Sigmund Freud and the psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan. They both believe that absolute liberation would lead to chaos, but the same would be true for absolute repression. Freud says that sublimation is the best way to deal with excessively strong desires. Namely, to transform the sexual energy into socially acceptable forms like art and philosophy. Fully repressing desires, according to him, would lead to neurosis and full liberation to the nature principle. Lacan’s theory focuses on desire as a fundamental “lack” – desire only exists because we cannot ever fully obtain the thing that is missing, as it always fluctuates. He argues that one is not in control of his desires as they are shaped by society, especially language, and are therefore never truly ours. He claims that pleasure in excess becomes destructive and can lead to madness, therefore one must understand the structure of desire and work around it. On the other hand, philosopher Felix Guattari criticizes Freud and Lacan on parts of their theories and labels them as repressive, particularly in an Oedipean framework. He argues that desire is not a lack, but a process – an inherently productive drive, rather than working only around absence. He disagrees with Lacan’s model as it limits a more comprehensive awareness of desire. He proposes a transformed model of desire as something that is not simply reactive, but rather constitutes reality, even when repressed. I will argue in favor of his theory, as he provides a more nuanced interpretation of the role of desire in personal and social contexts. To do so, I will begin with an overview of the topic of desire as a philosophical concept. Then I will cover the similarities and differences in the positions of Freud and Lacan on desire and sexual desire. Finally, I will turn to Guattari’s interpretation of desire and endorse it.

Speaker: Lora Slavova (Student at AUBG)

SLAVOVA_LORA_abstract.docx

3:00 PM It’s Just a Joke: The Ethics of Comedy and the Comedy of Ethics

Humor is an inseparable part of people’s lives: the desire to laugh is connected to the human striving for emotional and mental stimulation related to the need for enrichment and growth. In that regard comedy becomes the ultimate version where all the variations of humor come together to form a performative medium valuable enough to be appreciated as an artform, enjoyed not only for delivering wit and funniness, but also for bringing levels of societal and cultural relevancy. Becoming an artform, however, gives a certain freedom of expression to its artists, the standup comedians and the satirical show formats. This raises the question is there an ethical line that the “it’s-just-a-joke” card cannot cross. This paper is going to argue that there is such a limit and that none of the current approaches to humor satisfy it completely. Its goal would be to explore the different philosophies concerning the relationship between morality and comedy, outline their flaws, and combine all their positive aspects into a new, final standard for moral comedy that is more ethically sound. For that purpose, the paper is going to give an overview of the different theories behind humor, focusing on the incongruity theory to provide a better understanding of laughter as a physical response and how it is achieved. Then, it will explore the different ethical theories of the use of humor – amoralism, immoralism, and moralism, to better understand the different motives behind the delivery of a joke and their relationships with incongruity and evoking laughter. To illustrate each theory and its effects, the paper is going to give, respectively, three examples: the Bulgarian standup comedian Kamen Donev, the British comedian Jimmy Carr, and the American animated sitcom South Park created by comedians Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Those comedians, the topics they address, and their respective audiences’ reactions will be used to better identify the ethical pros and cons of each theory, emphasizing their flaws in maintaining the relationship between incongruity and comedy. Finally, a fourth theory of proper humor will be composed by the author filtering through the rightful points from all the philosophies discussed and combining them into a new ultimate standard for “just” comedy – supposedly, without moral defectiveness.

Speaker: Stefani Angelova (student)