Topic: research

The Juri Lotman Fund announces its scholarship contest for graduate students from the University of Tartu whose research continues the tradition of Lotman and his school in semiotics and Slavic philology. Application deadline is 30 January 2026, and the grantees of the scholarships will be announced on 28 February 2026.

Värske kogumik näitab, kuidas hirm on muutunud tänapäeva meediastunud ühiskonnas üheks keskseks jõuks, kujundades sõnumeid ja suunates avaliku elu arenguid. Raamatu „Through the Lens of Dread: Exploring the Meaning-Making of Fear in the Mediasphere“ („Läbi hirmu prisma: hirmu tähendusloome uurimine meediasfääris“) on toimetanud Merit Maran Tallinna Ülikoolist ja Juri Lotmani semiootikavaramust ning Mari-Liis Madisson ja Andreas Ventsel Tartu Ülikooli semiootika osakonnast.

Reedel, 31. novembril valiti Maarja Ojamaa Tartu Ülikooli senati poolt uueks kultuurisemiootika professoriks.

The University of Tartu and Tallinn Health University of Applied Sciences have strengthened cooperation in intersectoral doctoral studies to support academic succession at the professional higher education institution and enhance its research capacity. In September, the first intersectoral doctoral researcher began their studies in the collaboration between the two institutions.

A new special issue of the journal Sign Systems Studies, volume 53 (1/2), has been published. The issue is dedicated to the French philosophers Deleuze, Guattari, and semiotics. The issue was compiled and edited by Ott Puumeister, Research Fellow in Semiotics.

The new collection shows how emotions and affects shape political identities, amplify polarisation in times of crisis, and often turn public debate into emotional confrontation. „Power of Emotions. On the Affective Constitution of Political Struggle“ is edited by Andreas Ventsel, Professor of Political and Sociosemiotics at the University of Tartu, and Peeter Selg, Professor of Governance and Political Analysis at Tallinn University.

In collaboration with the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various partners at Stanford University, Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom has announced the 2026 Short-Term Research Fellowships for Estonian scholars. Two of the Stanford University Fellowships for Estonian Security and Foreign Policy Experts were awarded to researchers from the University of Tartu, semioticians Mari-Liis Madisson and Andreas Ventsel.

Call for applicants: Professor of Semiotics of Culture. Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics, University of Tartu, Estonia. The application deadline is 1 July 2025.

On 23 May 2025, Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas approved the results of the external evaluation of Estonian research and development. The University of Tartu was the only institution in Estonia to receive a positive evaluation in all six fields: natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, agriculture and veterinary sciences, social sciences, and humanities and the arts.

Estonian researchers have created the AI Barometer where users can compare the responses of language models and assess their proficiency in Estonian. Everyone is welcome to try out the barometer at baromeeter.ai. The researchers aim to collect at least 50,000 comparisons by the end of June.