Markus Bieswanger Appointed Vice President of the International Association of Applied Linguistics

"Leading one of the world’s largest linguistic associations, with over 8,000 members, and playing a key role in shaping the future of applied linguistics is an exciting task. It builds on my long-standing commitment to the applied linguistics community in the German-speaking world. The position offers fascinating insights and excellent opportunities for international networking, but it also presents a challenge in balancing association responsibilities with family, research, teaching, and committee work at the University of Bayreuth," said Bieswanger. His new role in AILA's executive board further enhances the University of Bayreuth's prominent status as a nationally and internationally recognised centre for applied linguistics.

The AILA executive board is responsible for managing the association and its committees. One task Bieswanger is particularly looking forward to is chairing the Solidarity Awards Committee, which selects underprivileged researchers for funding to attend AILA World Congresses. During his term, he also plans to focus on increasing the sustainability of the AILA World Congress and improving accessibility for members from around the globe. 

Another emerging focus is artificial intelligence. "The latest developments in AI are of paramount importance for linguistics and applied linguistics. Many of the most prominent examples of artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, are based on so-called language models. As Vice President, I aim to advance this topic within AILA’s various areas of expertise," said Bieswanger.

In addition to his new responsibilities, Bieswanger has been leading an international AILA research network since December. This network includes researchers from five continents and is dedicated to analysing and improving safety-critical communication between air traffic controllers and cockpit crews.