marlenmeissner(at)t-online.de

Title of the dissertation

The Valorisation of Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Bourdieusian Approach to the Developmental Potentials of Heritage

Year of graduation  

2020

Supervisor(s)

Prof. Dr. Marie-Theres Albert, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg

Prof. Dr. Christoph Wulf, FU Berlin

Short Bio

Marlen Meissner studied Cultural Studies and Anglistics (M.A.) at Leipzig University and University of Teesside, Middlesbrough (UK) as well as Instrumental and Vocal Performance and Teaching (B.A.) at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg. She worked as a project coordinator of the international EU-funded project ‘Cultural Capital Counts’ at the Chair Intercultural Studies/UNESCO Chair in Heritage Studies at BTU. Since 2014, she is a member of the federal jury of Brandenburg for the selection of applications for the German UNESCO inventory of intangible cultural heritage. During her PhD, she won five ‘Best Paper Awards’ for her research topic at different European conferences. Currently, she is coordinating two educational projects involving all universities in the federal state of Brandenburg and is regularly holding lectures and seminars at BTU’s Master programme ‘World Heritage Studies’ and PhD Programme ‘Heritage Studies’.

Selected publications

(Forthcoming), Meissner, Marlen. Intangible Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development. The Valorisation of Heritage, Springer, Dordrecht (Niederlande).

2018, Meissner, Marlen, Between Social Cohesion and Social Distinction: Intangible Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Social Development [in:] Lira, Sérgio; Amoêda, Rogério & Pinheiro, Cristina (eds.), Heritage 2018, Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable Development, Granada, pp. 235-244.

2018, Meissner, Marlen, Between Social Cohesion and Social Distinction: Intangible Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Social Development [in:] Lira, Sérgio; Amoêda, Rogério & Pinheiro, Cristina (eds.), Heritage 2018, Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable Development, Granada, pp. 235-244.

2014, Albert, Marie-Theres & Meissner, Marlen, Leitfaden zur Inwertsetzung des immateriellen Kulturerbes in der Niederlausitz, Chair Intercultural Studies / UNESCO Chair in Heritage Studies, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg.

2013, Meissner, Marlen, Der Jazz und die DDR. Freie Musik in der Diktatur des Proletariats, AV Akademikerverlag, Saarbrücken.

What will you remember most of your time at BTU Cottbus and in the PhD Programme Heritage Studies?

I will definitely remember the international context of the PhD programme. As one of the few German students I enjoyed working together with heritage enthusiasts from all over the world, which enabled me to gain new perspectives on my own research.

What advice to you have for prospective PhD candidates at BTU Cottbus?

Carefully design your research proposal but don’t be frustrated if you cannot stick to it later. That new insights sometimes require a change of plans is part of the research process. Visit as many international conferences as you can! Regular presentations sharpen your arguments and you get to know other researchers from your field. GRS offers conference travel grants.

What can we do to improve the PhD Programme and our services to PhD students?

Regular individual coaching on future career plans and on how to apply for postdocs or junior professorships would be great. While doing your PhD you have no idea what will expect you later and what you should do to already prepare the postdoc phase during your PhD.