Portrait of Andrea Bréard in black and white

Prof. Dr. Andrea Bréard

Studying mathematics, computer science, and sinology in Munich and Shanghai led me almost naturally to the interface between mathematics and sinology, with research topics ranging from ancient times to the 21st century. I have recently completed a book manuscript which is an annotated translation and bilingual edition of Li Shanlan’s 李善蘭 number theoretical book written entirely in natural language, the Analogical Categories of Discrete Accumulations 垛積比類 from 1876. Within Sin-aps, I am, among others, developing a project on the quantification of “race” in 20th century China (see an abstract of my recent article here).  

  • the role of quantification in science, state, and society in terms of its global and conceptual entanglements in modern China
  • the study of modalities of reasoning with numbers, not in the sense of Euclidean proof, but culturally in the sense of embedding socially and statistically constructed numbers in narratives in pre-modern and modern China
  • the politicization and instrumentalization, as well as the cultural relevance of only seemingly neutral, objective mathematics in China in a global perspective (19th to 21st centuries)
  • the algorithmic language of mathematics, especially its formal character
  • the statistical analysis of records of numbers on oracle bones for the reconstitution of divinatory techniques in Chinese antiquity

  • Formative Assessment for Universities: Strategic Application of Innovative Methods to Raise Study Success Rates


    (Third Party Funds Single)
    Project leader:
    Term: 1. October 2025 - 30. September 2031
    Acronym: FAUstairs
    Funding source: Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre
    URL: https://www.faustairs.fau.de
    Abstract

    The FAUstairs project aims to improve academic success. The new teaching architecture developed and implemented as part of the project focuses on promoting learning and subject-specific skills, which are central components of FAU’s internal definition of academic success. Innovative and AI-supported formative and summative assessments are designed to support students in developing these skills. In addition, data-based modelling of FAU degree programmes is being used to develop a privacy-compliant monitoring system that allows the learning behaviour of students to be analysed, thus facilitating appropriate educational responses on the part of teachers or the learning environment. Educational and technical innovations are intertwined to create a holistic, competence-oriented teaching and learning environment.

    A key component of the FAUstairs teaching architecture is formative assessment, which enables targeted feedback to be given to students during their studies and courses. This feedback helps students to deepen their understanding of the subject matter and develop their skills systematically. Continuous feedback and reflection on their own learning process promotes the acquisition of skills, with the learning process itself – both in terms of self-regulation by learners and adaptive adjustment of teaching by lecturers – becoming increasingly central.

    FAUstairs aims to highlight the considerable need for innovation in the area of assessment at all levels, to exploit existing scope for action, to identify potential challenges and to develop solutions together with relevant stakeholders, including the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts. The success of the project is continuously monitored and evaluated using various parameters, in particular, study success rates.

     

    FAUstairs is based on three central pillars::

    1. Educational innovation: Establishment of an assessment lab for the development and testing of innovative assessment formats
    2. Technical innovation: Establishment of AI-supported digital twins for data collection and processing
    3. Organisational development and integration into FAU structures: Sustainable anchoring of the new teaching architecture through targeted organisational development and integration into the FAU IT ecosystem


  • SMART vhb 2025/2026


    (Third Party Funds Single)
    Project leader: ,
    Term: 1. September 2025 - 15. October 2026
    Acronym: SMART vhb 2025/2026
    Funding source: Virtuelle Hochschule Bayern

  • Subproject KoWinChi@FAU


    (Third Party Funds Group – Sub project)
    Overall project: Kompetent wissenschaftlich interagieren mit China
    Project leader:
    Term: 1. September 2023 - 31. August 2026
    Acronym: KoWinChi
    Funding source: BMFTR / Verbundprojekt
    Abstract

    Cooperation with China is indispensable in many scientific disciplines. Chinese scientists today conduct research at an international level. Especially in natural science, the education of young Chinese scientists is often outstanding. In addition, Chinese institutions offer attractive research opportunities. Research cooperation with China therefore takes place today on an equal footing. At the same time, cooperation has become more complex because it takes place against the background of increased economic competition and system rivalry. Economic competition leads to concerns regarding intellectual property rights, industrial espionage or dual-use technologies. System rivalry raises questions about the safety of foreign scientists in China, the protection of freedom of expression, and academic freedom in general. The existing differences in scientific culture and academic socialization pose significant challenges for cooperation and the training of young Chinese scientists in Germany. Against this background, the project „Competence in Research Cooperation with China" (KoWinChi) aims to prepare scientists and science support staff at universities and research institutions for cooperation with China.

    The project is developing a modular system of training units that encourage interaction and exchange. The persons in the target groups can select modules to put together an individual training plan. The modules can be embedded in existing training programs of the participating universities and science organizations or combined to form a certificate.

    The aim of the sub-project is to develop the social science content of the modules in close cooperation with the project partner and to ensure the marketing and evaluation of the concept.

  • Sinology - algorithms, prediction and statistics


    (Third Party Funds Single)
    Project leader:
    Term: 1. February 2021 - 31. January 2026
    Acronym: sin-aps
    Funding source: Humboldt-Stiftung / Alexander von Humboldt-Professur
    URL: http://sin-aps.fau.de

  • Internationaler Preis für Forschung in Deutschland - Frau Prof. Breard


    (Third Party Funds Single)
    Term: 1. February 2021 - 31. January 2026
    Acronym: Internationaler Preis
    Funding source: Humboldt-Stiftung / Alexander von Humboldt-Professur

  • China Knowledge Networks


    (Non-FAU Project)
    Project leader:
    Term: 1. January 2020 - 31. December 2024
    Acronym: SinoNet
    Funding source: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), andere Förderorganisation
    URL: https://sinonet.hypotheses.org/
    Abstract

    Unser trilaterales Vorhaben ist wissenschafts-­ und disziplingeschichtlich: es betrifft Akteure des Wissenstransfers mit China seit Mitte des 19. Jhds. Sie werden in ihren komplexen Identitäten und globalen Netzwerken verstanden, die zur Schaffung von Wissen in beiden Richtungen beigetragen haben und durch Übersetzungsprozesse die Universalität (und Lokalität) der Wissenschaften konstruiert haben. Dies erlaubt 1. zu untersuchen, inwiefern diese Prozesse die „Sinologien“ sowohl in China als auch in Europa disziplinär differenziert haben und 2. die Sinologien Frankreichs, Deutschlands und Italiens wieder einander näher zu bringen.

  • : Alexander von Humboldt-Professur (Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung) – 2021
  • : Mitgliedschaft Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften Leopoldina – 2021
  • : Corresponding Member, International Academy of the History of Science (International Academy of the History of Science) – 2015
  • : Prix des Jeunes Historiens, Académie Internationale d’Histoire des Sciences (Académie Internationale d’Histoire des Sciences) – 1999
  • : Prix de thèse, Fondation Sino-Française pour l'Education et la Culture (Fondation Sino-Française pour l'Education et la Culture) – 1998

Authored Books

Edited Volumes

Journal Articles

Book Contributions

Conference Contributions

Thesis

Miscellaneous

Chair of Sinology focusing on the Intellectual and Cultural History of China (Alexander von Humboldt Professorship)

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