Dr Dimitrinka Atanasova
Lecturer in Intercultural CommunicationResearch Overview
I draw on theories and methods from applied linguistics, media & communication studies and sociology. I research health & science communication (particularly the topics of obesity, mental health, climate change, sustainability, nitrogen pollution) and developments in news journalism (currently, constructive journalism). I am especially interested in the communication of health & science topics in various media (especially through culturally-embedded frames and metaphors) and in how people discuss health & science topics using various media (and how their communicative practices may vary across cultures).
Career Details
Prior to Lancaster, I worked as a Media Consultant at a media analysis and technology company leading pharma and technology projects. I held research positions at Queen Mary, University of London (School of Languages, Linguistics & Film), University of Sheffield (Information School) and University of Leicester (School of Media, Communication & Sociology) and taught on undergraduate and postgraduate modules as an Associate Lecturer at University of Leicester (School of Media, Communication & Sociology). I continue to do occasional media consultancy work for private, public and third sector clients.
External Roles
- I am a Founding Member and was also Secretary (between March 2015 and February 2019) of the British Association for Applied Linguistics Special Interest Group on Health & Science Communication.
- I regularly review journal articles, book proposals, conference abstracts and funding applications to the Research Councils.
Current Teaching
Convene:
- Intercultural Communication (PG)
- Intercultural Encounters (PG)
- Corpus-based Discourse Analysis (PG)
Contribute:
- Understanding Media (UG)
- Critical Discourse Analysis (PG)
Programme administration:
- Director of Studies for the MA in Discourse Studies, the MA in English Language and Literary Studies, the MA in Intercultural Communication, and the MA in Language and Linguistics
Additional Information
Keep in touch through:
- Twitter: @dbatanasova
- LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dbatanasova
- ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dimitrinka_Atanasova4
PhD Supervision Interests
I am happy to supervise new PhD research projects and I am interested in the following areas: media representations of health and science issues; mediated communication about health and science; metaphor in discourses of health and science; new media genres, particularly examples of constructive journalism; country-comparative studies of the above topics.
Culture and Communication: Making Connections, Transcending Disciplines (CULCOM)
01/03/2023 → 31/07/2023
Research
Constructive news articles as an emerging genre
01/06/2020 → 30/06/2020
Research
The language of nitrogen: Why is understanding of the environmental challenges caused by nitrogen from agriculture so low?
01/02/2019 → 31/08/2019
Research
Together an Active Future
07/01/2019 → 06/07/2019
Research
CASS ESRC Transition Funding
01/04/2018 → 31/03/2023
Research
Diabetes UK Expert Reviewer
Other
Metaphors and frames in cross-cultural communication about obesity, climate change and Covid-19
Invited talk
UK Research & Innovation Strategic Priorities Fund Clean Air Consortia Assessment Panel Meeting
Other
UK Research & Innovation Strategic Priorities Fund Clean Air Consortia (Wave 2) Assessment Panel Meeting (Event)
Other Membership
Living with climate change: Motivation & action for lifestyle change (CLIMLIFE), University of Bergen (External organisation)
Membership of committee
UK Research & Innovation Strategic Priorities Fund Clean Air Networks Call (Event)
Other Membership
Public Health England (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel
‘What can linguistic analysis tell us about health and science topics?’
Invited talk
Climate change and metaphors in newspaper editorials and op-eds: Cross-country evidence
Invited talk
- DisTex - Discourse and Text Research Group