Dr Dimitrinka Atanasova
Senior Lecturer in Intercultural CommunicationResearch Overview
I draw on theories and methods from applied linguistics, media and communication studies, and sociology. I research health and science communication (obesity, mental health, climate change, sustainability, nitrogen pollution among others) and developments in news journalism (such as constructive journalism). I am especially interested in the communication of health and science topics in various media through culturally-embedded frames and metaphors as well as how people discuss health and science topics using various media and how their communicative practices may vary across cultures.
Career Details
I have 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 do occasional media consultancy work for private, public and third sector clients.
External Roles
- I am a Founding Member and was also Secretary (March 2015 - 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, on campus)
- Intercultural Encounters (PG, on campus)
- Corpus-based Discourse Analysis (PG, distance)
Contribute:
- Understanding Media (UG, on campus)
- Professional Communication (UG, on campus)
- Linguistics (UG, on campus)
Additional Information
Programme administration:
- Director of Studies for the MA in Discourse Studies, the MA in Intercultural Communication, and the MA in Language and Linguistics (October 2018 - September 2023)
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.
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Strategic Internationalisation Fund 2022/2023
01/04/2023 → 31/07/2023
Other
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
Organiser: Culture and Communication Network inaugural event
Other
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
- FASS Health Hub