Berlin Germany

Plasticities Sciences Arts

February 12, 2012Cultura21Art And Science, Arts And Humanities, Arts Humanities, Basic Principle, Berlin Germany, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Debono, Evolutionary Processes, Francesca, Human Experience, Including News, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Marc Williams, Mexico City, Oleg, Paris France, Plasticity, Psa, Rana, Research Group, Sacha, Sciences Arts, Valuable Online Resources

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â€œPlasticities Sciences Artsâ€ is an association based in France, operating at the transdisciplinary crossroads of art and science. As expressed by its president, Marc-Williams Debono, â€œthe PSA research group aims at opening new fields of interaction between sciences, arts and humanities. The group has its origins in 1994 when it established a Transdisciplinary network of researchers focusing on the nature of evolutionary processes. The identity of the group is founded on both knowledge and human experience as on the suggestion of the concept of plasticity. The latter is considered to be the basic principle underlying the organization of any life form, art or idea.â€

The groupâ€™s website contains valuable online resources including news items, activities and publications, and the online JournalÂ Plastir, which is on open access (i.e. freely accessible). The latest issue of Plastir (25) was released in December 2011.

The website (in English and in French) of â€œPlasticities Sciences Artsâ€ and Plastir is accessible at: http://plasticites-sciences-arts.org/

Workshop/Conference: Volunteering in times of crisis

February 11, 2012Cultura21Backdrop, Berlin Germany, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Creative Art Projects, Dorothee, Draft Agenda, E Mail, European Cities, European Citizenship, Francesca, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Local Governments, Members, Mexico City, Oleg, Paris France, Profit Organisation, Rana, Sacha, Vitality, Workshop Conference

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RECREATURA is a non-profit organisation supporting innovative and creative art projects in order to support an active European citizenship. The two-day conference concerning â€œVolunteering in times of crisisâ€ takes place on March 2 and 3, 2012 and aims to promote volunteering in European cities. Against the backdrop of the consequences from the recent crisis and high unemployment especially among young people in Spain, the conference will discuss the effects of the crisis on active citizenship and volunteering.

The event will be in English and Spanish and a variety of experts, representatives of NGOs, local governments and others will take part in the conference. If you are interested in participating â€“ either as participant or speaker â€“ please get in touch with Dorothee Fischer, Vice-President RECREATURA_arts&culture, dorotheefischer [at] gmail [dot] com. Participants need to sign up by e-mail by 28 February at the very latest.

Information on the schedule can be found in the PDF file Draft Agenda here.
For details about the background of the project see www.recreatura.com and www.alda-europe.eu

AAAS Annual Meeting in Vancouver â€“ discussing â€œScience, Sustainability, and the Artsâ€

February 9, 2012Cultura21Aaas Annual Meeting, Advance Science, American Association For The Advancement Of Science, American Association For The Advancement Of Science Aaas, Artistic Work, Association For The Advancement Of Science, Berlin Germany, Climate Change, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Educator, Francesca, Global Knowledge Society, Journal Science, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Mexico City, Non Profit Organization, Oleg, Panelists, Paris France, Poster Sessions, Professional Association, Rana, Sacha, Science Engineering, Science Technology, Scientific Education, Scientific Freedom, Spokesperson, Sustainability Science, Urban Life, Vancouver Canada

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The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is an international non-profit organization and the worldâ€™s largest general scientific society. Its mission is to â€œadvance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all peopleâ€ by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association.

Read on for more information about the themes of the 2012 AAAS Meeting and about a specific session on Science, Sustainability and Artâ€¦

In order to fulfill this mission, AAAS promotes cooperation among scientists and the public, defends scientific freedom, encourages scientific responsibility and supports scientific education. Furthermore, it is the publisher of the well-known scientific journal Science.

The AAAS Annual Meeting, scheduled for February 16-20 in Vancouver, is a multi-disciplinary gathering of international leading scientists. Its leading theme is â€œFlattening the World: Building a Global Knowledge Societyâ€. For this occasion an array of speakers will gather in Vancouver, B.C. for four days of symposia, lectures, seminars, workshops, and poster sessions that cover every area of science, technology, and education.

One of the symposia will bring together three panelists who work at the intersection of science, sustainability, and art. They will focus in their discussion on the question how artistic work engages with leading issues in sustainability science, including preservation of biodiversity, the human ecological footprint, climate change, and contemporary urban life.
For more details on this session, see: http://aaas.confex.com/aaas/2012/webprogram/Session4478.html

Survival of the Beautiful: Art, Science, and Evolution (UK)

February 9, 2012Cultura2116 February, Art And Culture, Art Science, Beautiful Art, Berlin Germany, Bristol Uk, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, David Rothenberg, Interplay, Jaron Lanier, Jay Griffiths, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Mexico City, Oleg, Paris France, Rana, Sacha, Watershed Bristol

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with David Rothenberg and Jay Griffiths

Watershed, Bristol (UK)
16 February 2012, 19.30-20.30

On the 16th of February 2012 David Rothenberg talks with scientists and artists about his new book Survival of the Beautiful, which examines the interplay of beauty, art, and culture in evolution. In it the philosopher and musician Rothenberg deals with the questions, why animals have innate appreciation for beauty and why nature is beautiful.

On the 16th of February the question of how art has influenced science is investigated by him and his guests.Â Above that, is asked what we can learn from the amazing range of animal aesthetic behaviour about animals and about ourselves.Â David Rothenberg will be in conversation with writer and commentator Jay Griffiths, whose books include Wild: An Elemental Journey.Â The event is topped of with music by David Rothenberg and Jaron Lanier and free and open to the public.Â For further information about the event or in order to book tickets, see http://www.ideasfestival.co.uk/?p=2500

For more information about David Rothenberg: www.davidrothenberg.net and about Jay Griffiths: www.jaygriffiths.com

Designing for the Divide: A Conference on Community Action Across Lines of Difference

February 8, 2012Cultura21Activi, Berlin Germany, Brigades, Build A Bridge, Challenges, Civic Engagement, Communication Design, Communication Field, Communication Organization, Conference Information, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Economic Development, Environment, Field Projects, Francesca, Governance, Group Formation, Information Communication, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Media Innovations, Members, Mexico City, Oleg, Oppositions, Paris France, Polarization, Popular Opinion, Rana, Sacha, Social Differences, Social Science, User Experience Design, Viewpoints, Vitality, West Virginia University

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West Virginia University
March the 23rd & 24th, 2012
In almost every issue concerning for example governance, the environment, economic development or healthcare, the lacking ability to communicate, cooperate and compromise obstructs the successful and effective addressing of challenges.

This conference aims to present ideas that help build a bridge in order to reduce social differences with the help of communication design, service design, user experience design, social science and partners in civic engagement. Among others projects, media innovations and citizen brigades will contribute their share to this reduction. The conference will also schedule workshops and planning sessions to jump start some of those ideas.

There are four topics to be dealt with at the conference: information, communication, organization and action.

For the field of information the questions are to be answered, how the influential forces that deepen polarization can be corrected and how binary oppositions can be modified into nuanced viewpoints that reflect popular opinion.

In the communication field a conversation should be opened about how to communicate effectively across lines and respectfully.

In terms of organization the focus will be put on questions like: How can we organize and retain difference? Do we need to think differently about group formation? How do we help opposing groups to collaborate?

For the action field projects serve as examples for successful community action.

For further details and the schedule of the conference seeÂ http://www.designingforthedivide.org

Partnering for the Climate: An Artist/Scientist Mixer

February 8, 2012Cultura21Art Research, Berlin Germany, Climate Change, Climate Change Issues, Community Members, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, February 12, Fellow Artists, Francesca, Global Warming, Interpretive Media, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Meaningful Relationships, Mexico City, Mixer, Noguchi Museum, Oleg, Paris France, Positive Feedback, Rana, Sacha, Scientist, Vitality

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New York, The Noguchi Museum

Sunday, February 12, 2012, 3 pm

In times of climate change and global warming individuals as well as communities are confronted with fragmented, confusing and often overwhelming news and data about these themes. In order to make sense of these facts the largely disconnected linking between art, research and the public has to find a way to spark new relationships and thus make a difference.

Artists and scientists need to partner up and combine science with interpretive media. In a Noguchi Museum event co-sponsored by positive Feedback, artists as well as scientists are invited to initiate new and meaningful relationships regarding climate change.

The event will provide stimulating discussion and time for exchanging with fellow artists, scientists, and community members active in climate change issues in New York City.

For further information see http://www.positivefeedbackusa.org/schedule-of-events/

Extension of the Call for Papers â€“ Sociology of the Arts â€“ Artistic Practices

February 7, 2012Cultura21, Open Calls19 February, 8 September, Artistic Practices, Berlin Germany, Call For Papers, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, European Sociological Association, Focus, Francesca, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Mexico City, Oleg, Paris France, Rana, Sacha, Sociologists, Sociology, Vienna, Vitality

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Two months ago we published on our website a call for papers for the next conference of the Research Network Sociology of the Arts, at the European Sociological Association, which will take place in Vienna from 5 to 8 September 2012. The focus of the conference will be on artistic practices. The call for papers is open, not only to sociologists, but also to interdisciplinary researchers from diverse backgrounds.

Many people interested in the conference have asked for the call for papers to be extended. This has been agreed, so the new deadline will be the 19 February 2012.

To look back into our post from November 4th 2011, about the call for papers, please click here.

For more information on the conference please also visit the conference website at: http://www.mdw.ac.at/ESA-Arts-2012

Conference: Probing the Skin

February 7, 2012Cultura21, Open CallsAks, Art Media, Berlin Germany, Caroline Rosenthal, Closer Look, Collective Memories, Contact Zone, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Dirk, Ernst Abbe, Francesca, Friedrich Schiller, Friedrich Schiller UniversitÃ¤T, Friedrich Schiller University, Individuality, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, March 31st, Mexico City, Oleg, Parallels, Paris France, Piece Of Paper, Rana, Sacha, Stimuli, Submission Of Papers, Uni Jena, UniversitÃ¤T Jena, University Of Jena, Vitality

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From April the 24th to April the 26th 2013 the conference â€œProbing the Skin: Cultural representations of Our Contact Zoneâ€ takes place at the Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena.

The organizers Prof. Caroline Rosenthal and Prof. Dirk Vanderbeke aks for submission of papers including artistic reflections of skin related themes in literature, art, media studies, and anthropology.

The conference aims to bring academics from various disciplines together in order to discuss the role of skin, which has been neglected in the discourse of literature and culture about body and senses in the recent years.

The skin deserves a closer look, as it is the largest organ reacting to sensual stimuli and embodies the border between our inside and outside world. It is able to protect us and at the same time it identifies us. Furthermore it is an indicator for health, age and even for feelings and experiences. The skin can also be inscribed with individual and collective memories and traumata.

Possible themes for submissions are:

Skin asâ€¦

a medium and surface. Parallels between the skin and a canvas or piece of paper
lieux de memoire. Skin as bearing the traces of deliberate or forceful marks
a mask and performative space. Skin hides as much as it reveals
a contact zone, as the permeable border between inside and outside
a third space, as something in-between nature-culture, inside-outside, body-mind
a means of inclusion and exclusion
a marker for identity and individuality
a medium for the senses, for hurt, lust, pain
a trophy, an object of value or even currency

Deadline for submissions in English is March 31st, 2012.

Please submit your abstract to one of the organizers:

Prof. Dr. Caroline Rosenthal and Prof. Dr. Dirk Vanderbeke
Institut fÃ¼r Anglistik/Amerikanistik
Friedrich-Schiller-UniversitÃ¤t Jena
Ernst-Abbe-Platz 8
07743 Jena
caroline [dot] rosenthal [at] uni-jena [dot] de / vanderbeke [at] t-online [dot] de

Land Art Generator Initiative design competition

February 6, 2012Cultura21, Open CallsBerlin Germany, Clean Energy, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Design Brief, Design Competition, Dot Org, Ecological Restoration, Educational Programming, Electrical Grid, Energy Generation, Environmental Sustainability, Francesca, Fresh Kills Landfill, Generating Electricity, Human Impact On The Earth, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Land Art, Landscape Architects, Manhattan Skyline, Mexico City, Oleg, Paris France, Public Art Installations, Public Artwork, Public Concern, Rana, Recreational Opportunities, Sacha, Sculpture, Urban Planners, Vitality

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The Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) aims at designing public art installations that have an additional benefit of large scale clean energy generation. Each sculpture can continuously distribute clean energy into the electrical grid and thus potentially provide power to thousands of homes.

In 2012 the Land Art Generator Initiative holds a design competition for a site within Freshkills Park (the former Fresh Kills Landfill) together with New York Cityâ€™s Department of Parks & Recreation in New York City.

â€œAt 2,200 acres, Freshkills Park will be almost three times the size of Central Park and the largest park developed in New York City in over 100 years. The transformation of what was formerly the worldâ€™s largest landfill into a productive and beautiful cultural destination will make the park a symbol of renewal and an expression of how our society can restore balance to its landscape.

In addition to providing a wide range of recreational opportunities, including many uncommon in the city, the parkâ€™s design, ecological restoration and cultural and educational programming will emphasize environmental sustainability and a renewed public concern for our human impact on the earth.â€ â€“

FRESHKILLS PARK

LAGI 2012 is an ideas competition to design a site-specific public artwork that combines beauty with utility of generating electricity.
The beauty of the reclaimed landscape and the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline are promising settings for an aesthetic and sustainable urban planning of the area.

The competition is open to everyone. Designers, artists, engineers, architects, landscape architects, university students, urban planners, scientists are encouraged to send their submissions.

For more information and the design brief see http://landartgenerator.org/competition.html

If there are further questions, please send an email to lagi [at] landartgenerator [dot] org.

ECOPSYCHOLOGY & NATURAL CHANGE COURSES in 2012

February 5, 2012Cultura2116th April, Amp, Berlin Germany, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, David Key, Distance Learning, Ecological Balance, Ecological Identity, Ecological Self, Ecology, Ecopsychology, Facilitating Groups, Facilitators, Francesca, Interdependence, Kagan, Kajsa, Knoydart, Koefoed, Meditation Hall, Mexico City, Mindfulness, Oleg, Outdoor Experiences, Paris France, Personal Healing, Professional Development Course, Professional Development Courses, Professional Life, Rana, Sacha, Schumacher College, Scotland, Self Realisation, Small Group, Vitality, Wild Nature, Wwf

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The purpose of the ecoSelf project is for people to find a sense of ecological identity and based on that to live in ecological balance.Â In order to find this ecological identity, people have to face the fact that humankind is part of the Earthâ€™s wider ecology, thus stands in constant interdependence with nature. This knowledge can contribute to personal healing because the individual can be healed as part of the larger body of the Earth.Â Since wild nature seems to provide a powerful context for processes of ecological Self realisation, David Key uses it as a basis for his courses and projects. He provides professional development courses to help people learn how to facilitate ecological Self realisation programmes.

In the following some of his courses and programmes are introduced:

Natural Change for Facilitators

Knoydart (Scotland)Â 24th â€“ 31st March, 2012

It is a professional development course for those interested in facilitating groups using approaches pioneered on WWFâ€™s Natural Change Project. Natural Change is an outdoor-based experiential programme designed to engage and support leaders for sustainability.

Ecopsychology Distance Learning Programme

16th April â€“ 15th June, 2012
This programme offers a 12 week learning opportunity for those interested in exploring ecopsychology theory. A major part of the learning process will be to help exploring how one might apply ecopsychology to the personal and professional life.

Ecopsychology: experiencing the ecological self

Schumacher College, Devon from May 27- June 1, 2012

Through a series of carefully facilitated outdoor experiences and small group work, this course will help participants experience the ecological Self and ask what it really means to â€œreconnect with natureâ€.

Wild Mindfulness

Scotland (Holy Isle) from the 26th June â€“ 2nd July, 2012

This course takes the practice of mindfulness out of the meditation hall andÂ into the wild. Through mindfulness practice and other contemplative workÂ outdoors on the island, the course offers a chance to attend to the deepÂ interconnectedness with the wider ecology.

For more information about the courses and bookings visit http://www.ecoself.net/courses/

Furthermore programme design, mentoring / supervision, and ecopsychology teaching, research and consultancy services are offered, visit www.ecoself.net in order to get more details.