Val Biwa studies Intercultural Communication and specifically examines how adapting to new cultures impacts the identities of immigrants, refugees, and sojourners toward development, transformation, and negotiation of identities in relation to interlocutors and the environment. The negotiation of existing and newly transformed identities may lead to identity conflict as well as intercultural conflict. Thus, Val studies intercultural conflict at an individual, group, and organizational level as well. Her research, in collaboration with her research partner, Kyle Hammonds, examines intractable conflict and discourses of forgiveness and reconciliation that can foster and advance peacebuilding efforts in post-conflict societies.
