RSU RESEARCH WEEK 2023

The 3rd International Interdisciplinary Conference PLACES

PLACES - Politics, Law, Anthropology, Communication, Economics and Business, Sociology

Invitation

Our future is a race between the growing power of technology and the wisdom with which we use it (Stephen William Hawking)

The 3rd Rīga Stradiņš University international and interdisciplinary conference PLACES invites to consider and discuss the uneasy and fraught intersection between technological advancement and the societal context within which it takes place.

Over the course of three days and from diverse social science perspectives, such as communication science, economics, legal science, political science, psychology, social anthropology, and sociology, the conference will tackle questions regarding the production, use and governance of various technologies, broadly defined, as well as our engagement with and imaginaries of specific infrastructures, tools and devices including, importantly, digital ones.

The larger guiding question of the event is one of priorities when it comes to our engagement with technologies and the societal transformations associated with and mediated through this intersection. What socioeconomic, political, legal, psychological, ideological and discursive processes shape and are shaped by these interactions? Whose voices do we tend to hear, take into account, and amplify? What tensions between various worldviews emerge through various technological engagements and/ or disengagements? To return to Hawking’s quote as the guiding theme of the conference, who are the winners and losers of the “growing power of technology”? And, what can and should we do to enhance “the wisdom with which we use it”?

We invite you to peruse the topics of each of the conference days as outlined below and submit your proposal to one of them.

Sections and Side Events

The End of Story and the Return of History – 30 March – Agenda

Organized by the Faculty of Communication

Venue: RSU, 16 Dzirciema iela, Senate Hall

Session I Chair: Assoc. Prof. Ilva Skulte
9:30–10:30	KEYNOTE: Climate Change as the “Place” where “Everything” Meets, Collides and Implodes in Modern and Late Modern Age. Some Thoughts from a Media Technology Perspective Peter Berglez
Session II: Communication and Media Studies Developments in Latvia (roundtable discussion) Chair: Jānis Juzefovičs (TBC)
11:00–11:40	Fertile Fields and Deserts of Research. Risks and Opportunities Related to Communication and Media Studies Development in Latvia (2000–2020) Prof. Anda Rožukalne, Dr Alnis Stakle, Assoc. Prof. Ilva Skulte
11:40–11:50	Reports of Death of the Press Release Are Greatly Exaggerated Lāsma Šķestere
11:50–12:00	(D)Effect of the Internet on Journalist Professional Life in Latvia Līga Ozoliņa
12:00–12:30	Discussion
12:30–13:30	Break
Session III: From Higher Education to the Workplace Chair: Asst. Prof. Agita Lūse
13:30–13:45	Measuring Scientific Performance: The Case of RSU Assoc. Prof. Klāvs Sedlenieks
13:45–14:00	Between Work and Family: Experiences of International Scholars in Japan and Latvia Ieva Puzo, PhD
14:00–14:15	Research Workers, Mobility and Relatedness in Research Performing Institutions in Latvia Diāna Kiščenko
14:15–14:30	Work Engagement and Job Satisfaction in Lithuania and Europe: Evidence from the European Social Survey Dr Rasa Indriliūnaitė
14:30–14:45	Transition from Upper Secondary to Higher Education (Comparative Eurostudent Study) Ilze Trapenciere, Ansis Pētersons, Aleksandrs Aleksandrovs, Dr Ilze Koroļeva
14:45–15:00	Discussion
15:00–15:30	Break
Session IV: Kinship, Affinities and Forms of Relatedness in Contemporary World Chair: Ieva Puzo
15:30–15:40	Chefs in the Making: Restaurant Kitchen Rituals, Liminality & Kinship Dr Nafsika Papacharalampous
15:40–15:50	Work-Life Balance in the Experience of Skilled Transnational Migrants and Their Families Dr Baiba Bela, Anete Kriķīte
15:50–16:00	Relatedness and the Long-Term Fieldwork in Anthropology Assoc. Prof. Klāvs Sedlenieks
16:00–16:10	Metaphors of Thriving: A Century of Studying Kinship in Latvia Dr Agita Lūse
16:10–16:20	The Scope of Family in Latvian Laws and Why Does It Matter in the Context of Mobility Liene Rācene-Riekstiņa
16:20–16:30	The Impact of Job Specifics on Social Ties of Professional Orchestral Musicians in Latvia Aija Siliņa
16:30–17:00	Discussion
17:00–17:30	Break
Session V: Uderstanding Death and Dying Chair: Assoc. Prof. Klāvs Sedlenieks
17:30–17:45	The Relation of the First Significant Encounter with Death to the Person's Attitude Towards Mortality, Death and the Imagined Afterlife Diāna Kalniņa
17:45–18:00	Is There Anything Beyond the End? Visions of the Afterlife in Contemporary Latvia Dr Agita Misāne
18:00–18:15	The Discourse of Extinction of the Nation in Parliamentary Debates in Latvia Assoc. Prof. Ilva Skulte
18:15–18:30	New Religious Movements as Negotiations Between Past and Future Prof. Michael Strmiska
18:30–18:45	Latvian Doctors and Medical Students on Assisted Dying Ivars Neiders, Dr Silva Seņkāne
18:45–19:00	Discussion

Technologies and Governance: Power & Money – 31 March – Agenda

Organized by the Faculty of European Studies

Venue: RSU, 16 Dzirciema iela, Senate Hall

Session I: Technological and Digital Transformation in Business, Economics and Politics Chair: Asst. Prof. Mārtiņš Daugulis
9:00–10:00	KEYNOTE: Contributions to the Management of Technologies in Modern Production and Logistics Systems Manuel Woschank
10:00–10:15	Medical and Health Research Output Indicators in University Ranking, Opportunity Assessments and Future Potential Forecasts in Case of Latvian Research Universities Jānis Paiders, Dmitrijs Stepanovs, Uldis Berķis
10:15–10:30	The EU and Its Southern Neighbourhood Policy: Resilience in the Era of Science Diplomacy Zane Šime
10:30–11:00	Break
Session II: International Business and Politics: Interdependence and Governance Chair: Asst. Prof. Mārtiņš Daugulis, Asst. Prof. Anželika Berķe-Berga
11:00–11:15	Innovative Methods in Designing Policy: Case Study of Drafting Phase of Oncology Treatment Plan (2022–2024) Mārtiņš Daugulis
11:15–11:30	The European Story of China in Africa: Examining the Token “Cautionary Tale” Una Bērziņa-Čerenkova
11:30–11:45	Business Support During the Financial Crisis and the COVID Pandemic: An Analysis of International and Latvian Experience Anželika Berķe-Berga, Inna Dovladbekova
11:45–12:00	The Struggle for Dominance in Global Internet Governance: A Comparison of the USA, EU, Russia and China Approaches Tsevete-Lina Romanova Gervazieva
12:00–12:15	A University-Business Alliance in Strengthening Green Transition and Green Entrepreneurship Sergejs Stacenko, Līga Briķena
12:15–12:30	Digital Marketing in Corporate Social Responsibility: Legal Challenges in the European Union Santa Bormane, Marta Urbāne
12:30–13:30	Break
Session III: International Practice for Sustainable Development Chair: Prof. Tatjana Muravska
13:30–13:45	Applicability of International Practice Theory in Foreign Policy Analysis Māris Cepurītis
13:45–14:00	Private Sector in the Comprehensive National Defence System of Latvia: Dimensions of Psychological Resilience and Strategic Communication. Case Study: Institutionalization Potential of Mobile Telecommunications Operator LMT Lita Juberte-Krūmiņa
14:00–14:15	Dynamics of Populist Parties in European Union Countries from 2013 to 2022 Pēteris Plakans
14:15–14:30	Sanctions and New Opportunities for Central Asia Līga Andersone
14:30–14:45	Digitalization as a Solution for Ensuring the Continuity of Parliament Functions During the Covid-19 Crisis and Its Impact on the Work of the Parliament Romāns Gagunovs, Ilga Kreituse
14:45–15:00	Recommendations for Applying World Health Organization's Policy to Population Aging in Latvia Tatjana Azamatova

Transformation of Law in the Era of Digitalisation: Defining the Priorities – 29 March – Agenda

Organized by the Faculty of Law

Venue: RSU, 16 Dzirciema iela, Senate Hall

Session I Chair: Prof. Jānis Grasis, Asst. Prof. Karina Palkova
9:00–9:20	The Next Chapter in Latvia's Digital Transformation Journey Māris Sprindžuks, Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development
9:20–10:20	Keynote discussions Māris Sprindžuks, Prof. Paulius Pakutinskas, Prof. Erik Hahn
10:20–10:30	Book launch Prof. Jānis Grasis
10:30–11:00	Break
Session II: Current Legal Issues in Medical and Healh Law Chair: Asst. Prof. Karina Palkova
11:00–11:10	The Protection of Patient Rights in the Provision of Telemedicine Services Rafaels Ciekurs
11:10–11:20	The Effect of the Medical Device Regulatory Changes on Digital Solution Development and Healthcare Industry in EU Līga Svempe
11:20–11:30	Data Ownership in Training Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Artūrs Žukovs, Kristaps Upenieks
11:30–11:40	Digital Informed Consent in Organ Transplantation – Challenges and Opportunities Daniela Izotenko
11:40–11:50	The Legal Framework and Challenges of the Patient Safety Incident Reporting-Learning System: Healthcare Students' Perspective Andreta Slavinska
11:50–12:00	The Right to Medical Care: The Realities of the Russian-Ukrainian War Tetiana Mykhailichenko
12:00–12:10	The Capable Adult Patient's Right to Decide in Medical Treatment Based on His or Her Religious Beliefs the Republic of Latvia Laura Šāberte
12:10–12:20	Legally Questionable Application of Psychiatric Treatment Without Consent to Persons Who Are Limited in Self-Care Ability Assoc. Prof. Solvita Olsena
12:20–12:30	Justified Damage in Healthcare – Concept, Scope and Criteria Assoc. Prof. Inga Kudeikina, Marina Loseviča
12:30–13:30	Break
Session III: Current Legal Issues in Medical and Healh Law Chair: Asst. Prof. Karina Palkova
13:30–13:40	Private Corruption in Pharmaceutical Sector Prof. Natalya Gutorova
13:40–13:50	Legal Characteristics of Marketing Agreements in Ukraine’s Pharmacy Prof. Vitalii Pashkov
13:50–14:00	Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: Reconciling Consumer Protection and Medical Revolution Interests George Chakhvadze, Maninderjit Kaur Taneja
14:00–14:10	Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Legal Issues of Informed Consent Assoc. Prof. Inga Kudeikina
14:10–14:20	Cancellation of the Sick Leave as a Possible Basis for Termination of the Employment Contract Dace Tarasova, Laura Šāberte
14:20–14:30	Civil Liability of Medical Staff Yulia Zabuha
Current Legal Issues in Administrative Law
14:30–14:40	The Legal Perspective of the New Local Government Law – New Challenges or Lack of Democracy Juris Radzevičs
14:40–14:50	Implementation of Online Classes in the Higher Education in Latvia: A Multidisciplinary Analysis of the Current Legal Framework with a Particular Focus on Legal Studies Laura Ratniece
14:50–15:00	Application of Administrative Responsibility to Minors Lidija Rozentāle, Aigars Rožkalns
Session IV: Current Issues in International Law Chair: Prof. Jānis Grasis
15:30–15:40	Violation of the Right to Information in the Conditions of Russia's Armed Aggression Against Ukraine Natalia Netesa, Vladyslava Batyrgareieva
15:40–15:50	Is Artificial Intelligence, Including Chat GPT and Others, a Professor’s Assistant or a Threat in the Process of Legal Education? Prof. Uldis Ķinis
15:50–16:00	Securing Rights of the Child in the Era of Digitalization Ilze Bērziņa
16:00–16:10	Necessity of the Law on Financial Transactions Tatjana Jukna
16:10–16:20	Access to the Information on the Beneficial Ownership of Companies: Privacy vs. Legitimate Public Interest Prof. Jānis Grasis
Current Issues in Criminal Law and Criminology
16:30–16:40	Development Trends of Criminology in Modern Society Prof. Andrejs Vilks
16:40–16:50	The Use of Digital Devices in Road Traffic Control: A Threat to the Principle of Proportionality Juris Matisāns
16:50–17:00	Criminological Legislation in the Field of Road Safety Alīna Kalniņa
Session IV: Current Issues in Civil Law Chair: Ilze Bērziņa
17:00–17:10	Roman Law and Legal Regulation of Gambling Phenomenon Prof. Osvalds Joksts, Allars Apsītis
17:10–17:20	Roman Law Real Servitudes as a Predecessors to Modern-Day Latvia’s “Ceļa servitūts” – “Servitude of Right of Way” Jolanta Dinsberga, Allars Apsītis, Dace Tarasova
17:20–17:30	Civil Proceedings, Digitalization and the Proclamation of Insolvency Proceedings Valdis Savickis, Assoc. Prof. Inga Kudeikina
17:30–17:40	Processing of Employees Biometric Data in Employment Legal Relations Agnese Reine
17:40–17:50	The Origin and Modern Legal Existence of the Concept of Force Majeure Prof. Osvalds Joksts
17:50–18:00	Graphic Representation of the Easement Territory – Legal and Practical Aspects Jolanta Dinsberga

Side event: Fostering Action with Narratives: Communicating about Climate Change and Energy Transition in Politics, Business, Media and Society – 30 March

Organized by the Faculty of European Studies

Venue: RSU Pharmaceutical Education and Research Centre, 21 Konsula iela, Room #204

Session I: Narratives: Why They Matter in Climate and Energy Transitions Chair: Prof. Andris Sprūds, Vineta Kleinberga
11:00–11:30	KEYNOTE: To the Question of Resilient Normative Images of the EU at the Age of Uncertainty: Narratives of Climate Change and Environmental Protection Prof. Natalia Chaban, Department of Media and Communication, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
11:30–12:00	KEYNOTE: Words as Tools for Climate Action: Challenging Business as Usual with Emancipatory More-than-Human Language Asst. Prof. Michał Pałasz, Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland
12:00–12:30	Discussion
12:30–13:30	Break
Session II: Narratives as They Are Told: Climate and Energy Transitions from Various Actors' Perspectives Chair: Vineta Kleinberga
13:30–13:40	Between Two Worlds: Sovereignty, Climate and Narrating the Future in Taiwan Prof. Ben O'Loughlin, Dr Pauline Sophie Heinrichs
13:40–13:50	Climate Policy Narratives of the Political Elite of Latvia (Parliament, Cabinet of Ministers, and Municipalities): A Comparative Analysis Lelde Metla-Rozentāle
13:50–14:00	Market Arguments, Contested Energy Transitions and Sweden's Energy Policy Framework Hugo Faber
14:00–14:10	Climate Change, the Media and Consumption Narratives Dr Anastasia Denisova
14:10–14:20	Narratives about Climate Change Produced in Latvian Business Environment Kristīne Blumfelde-Rutka
14:20–14:30	Projection of the European Union Climate and Environmental Narratives in the Debates of the Latvian Parliament (2018–2022) Katrīna Laura Tkačenko
14:30–15:00	Discussion
15:00–15:30	Break
Session III: Enabling and Contesting the Narratives: The Role of Perceptions, Attitudes and Imaginaries Chair: Kristīne Blumfelde-Rutka
15:30–15:40	Winners or Losers? Perceptions of Climate Change and Related Policies in Latvian Society Vineta Kleinberga
15:40–15:50	Institutionalising a Promise: The Case of SMR Regulation in Finland Dr Matti Kojo
15:50–16:00	Generation Z’s Attitudes Towards the Narrative about Sustainable Transport and Electromobility in Poznań, Poland Zuzanna Jezierska
16:00–16:10	Integration of Climate Change Content in Marketing Communication of Retail Companies in Latvia Santa Kliedere
16:10–16:20	Who's Behind the News? The Role of News Agency LETA in the Framing of Climate Change in Latvian Media Dr Ilva Skulte
16:20–16:30	Production of Wind Energy in Latvia: A Comparison of the Government's Strategic Narrative and the Political Narratives of the Kurzeme Planning Region (2019–2022) Dace Vašuka
16:30–16:40	The Survey of Systemic Food Waste Generation Causes in Latvian Retail, Catering and Households Raimonda Soloha
16:40–17:00	Discussion
17:00–17:30	Break
Session IV: Political, Economic, Legal and Cultural Contexts for Climate and Energy Narratives Chair: Lelde Metla-Rozentāle, Vineta Kleinberga
17:30–17:40	Bringing Climate Action to the European Level: Assessing Why EU Member States Push for an Ambitious EU Climate Agenda Māra Baumane
17:40–17:50	Mapping the Existing Local Ecosystem Waste Management Practices in the EU Anna Broka
17:50–18:00	Corporate Sustainability Reporting – More than a Tool for a Company's Reputation Management Kristiāna Plāte
18:00–18:10	Potential of Legal Tech for Energy Justice Legislation Judith Kärn
18:10–18:20	Waste Management in the Context of the Circular Economy: International and Latvian Experience Laura Martinsone
18:20–18:30	Do You Believe Them? Perceived Trustworthiness of the Narrator in Evaluating the Effectiveness of Climate Change Narratives Vineta Kleinberga
18:30–18:50	Discussion
18:50–19:00	Concluding Remarks: Future Research Agenda Prof. Andris Sprūds, Vineta Kleinberga

Side event: Kinship and Relatedness amidst Mobility-Facilitating Work Policies – 31 March

Organized by the Faculty of Communication

Venue: RSU, 16 Dzirciema iela, Block B, Rooms 202/203 (on-site only)

On March 31, a roundtable discussion will take place about the intersection between academic mobility and kinship, in collaboration with other research institutions as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations.

The main objective of the event is to discuss the existing challenges and possible solutions in contemporary academic mobility. The roundtable is organized as part of the research project (Re)moving Ties: Relatedness in Contemporary Mobile Work Regimes funded by the Latvian Council of Science.

Event language: Latvian

Side event: "Memento mori" public lecture and roundtable discussion – 31 March

Organized by the Faculty of Communication

Venue: RSU, 16 Dzirciema iela, Block B, Rooms 202/203

Researchers of the Memento Mori: End of Life, Death and Imagined Afterlife in the Contemporary Latvian Lifeworld project (lzp-2019/1-0223), funded by the Latvian Council of Science, will present the findings of their research. A public lecture will be followed by a roundtable discussion on the existing challenges and the possible solutions for dying with dignity in contemporary Latvia.

Event language: Latvian

Side event: General Meeting of the Latvian Economists Association – 30 March

Organized by the Faculty of European Studies

Venue: RSU, 16 Dzirciema iela, Rooms 202 & 203

The general meeting of the Latvian Economists Association and the recruitment of new members will take place on March 30 at Rīga Stardiņš University in collaboration with the Faculty of European Studies.

The Latvian Economists Association was founded in 2009 with the aim of promoting and coordinating the cooperation of Latvian economists at the individual and institutional level. Lecturers from various universities and professionals from various fields participate in the association.

Organising Committee

PhD Ieva Puzo, Dean, Faculty of Communication, RSU
PhD Asst. Prof. Karina Palkova, Faculty of Law, RSU
PhD Assoc. Prof. Marta Urbāne, Dean of the Faculty of European Studies, RSU

International Scientific Committee

Communication

Prof. Anda Rožukalne, Faculty of Communication, RSU, Latvia
Prof. Auksė Balčytienė, Department of Public Communications, Vytautas Magnus University Kaunas, Lithuania
Assoc. Prof. Andres Jõessar, Baltic Film, Media and Arts School, Tallinn University, Estonia
Assoc. Prof. Klāvs Sedlenieks, Leading Researcher, Faculty of Communication, RSU, Latvia

Ieva Puzo, Researcher, Dean, Faculty of Communication, RSU, Latvia
Agita Misāne, Leading Researcher, Faculty of Communication, RSU, Latvia
Assoc. Prof. Michael Strmiska, Global Studies, SUNY-Orange, State University of New York, US
Assoc. Prof. Sandra Mihailova, Faculty of Communication, RSU, Latvia
Ieva Reine, Associated Researcher, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden

European Studies

Prof. Dr. oec. Inna Dovladbekova, Department of International Business and Economics, RSU, Latvia
Prof. Dr. oec. Tatjana Muravska, Department of International Business and Economics, RSU, Latvia
Assoc. Prof. Dr. iur. Marta Urbāne, Dean, Faculty of European Studies, RSU, Latvia
Dr. oec. Anželika Berķe-Berga, Department of International Business and Economics RSU, Latvia
Prof. Dr. iur. Christiane Trüe, Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences, School of International Business, International Graduate Center of Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Prof. Dr. sc. pol. Andris Sprūds, Faculty of European Studies, RSU, Latvia

Prof. Antje Leukens, Programme Head, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (International Management) at FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern, Switzerland
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Māris Andžāns, Director of Study Programme, International Governance and Diplomacy, Director of Study Programme, Russia and Eurasia Studies, Department of Political Science, RSU, Director of "Center for Geopolitical Studies Riga", Latvia
Asst. Prof. Dr. Kārlis Bukovskis, Researcher, Department of Political Science, Director of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs, Latvia
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Edijs Bošs, Department of Political Science, RSU, Latvia
Vineta Kleinberga, Researcher, Faculty of European Studies; PhD student, RSU, Latvia

Law

Prof., Dr. iur. Jānis Grasis, Dean, Faculty of Law, RSU, Latvia
Prof., Dr. iur. Andrejs Vilks, Faculty of Law, RSU, Latvia
Prof., Dr. iur. Sandra Kaija, Faculty of Law, RSU, Latvia
Prof. Dr. iur., Tanel Kerikmäe, Tallinn University of Technology, School of Business and Governance, Estonia
Prof. Dr. iur. habil., Dr. rer. medic. Erik Hans, Zittau/Görlitz University AS, Dresden International University, Germany

Prof. Dr. iur. Jacek Zieliński, Siedlce University of Natural Science and Humanities, Poland
Prof. Dr. iur. Tomasso Vito Russo, University of Salento, Counsel at Tribonian Law, Italy.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. iur. Dovile Gailiūte-Janušone, Vice-Dean for International Relations and Studies, Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania
Asst. Prof. PhD Karina Palkova, Faculty of Law, Head of Doctoral Study Programme “Law”, RSU, Latvia