Description
This seminar event featured an artist talk, a panel discussion, and a networking lunch, fostering dialogue among artists, scientists, and philosophers. The seminar centred on the Koelleven project, which investigates the boundaries of transdisciplinary collaboration by exploring interactions between humans and microbial life in an industrial context, specifically in natural-draft hyperboloid cooling towers. The initiative bridges art and science, offering fresh perspectives on bioethics and the role of microorganisms in our environment.The panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Riikka Mäkikoskela, brought together experts from diverse academic backgrounds to discuss the ethical, philosophical, and practical implications of transdisciplinary collaborative inquiry. Panelists included:
- Prof. Kristien Hens, Centre for Ethics, Department of Philosophy, Antwerp University, Belgium
- Prof. Marjan De Mey, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium
- Emmelie De Ridder, PhD student, LM-UGent, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Belgium
- Allyson Robert, PhD student, X-LAB, Department of Physics, Hasselt University, Belgium
- Prof. Dr. Filippo Morini, Guest Professor, X-LAB, Department of Physics, Hasselt University, Belgium
- Dr. Christina Stadlbauer, Researcher, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium
- Dr. Bart Vandeput, Postdoctoral Senior Researcher, Department of Philosophy, Antwerp University, Belgium
- Dr. Janne Halme, New Energy Technologies Group, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University School of Science, Finland
The discussion highlighted the significance of interdisciplinary perspectives in addressing complex environmental and societal challenges, including the roles of microbes in industrial and ecological systems, human-microbial relationships, and collaboration between scientific, artistic and philosophical research.
Acknowledgements
Koelleven: inquiries about relationalities between microbiomes in cooling towers & humans is a project by Bartaku_Art_Research / r-Ohm vzw (BE), in partnership with X-LAB, UHasselt; Lab of Microbiology and Centre for Synthetic Biology, UGent; Centre for Ethics, UAntwerp; New Energy Technologies Group, Aalto University; and nadine lab for contemporary art.
This project is funded through the Innovative Partner Projects scheme by Flemish Cultural Authorities (1.1.2023 – 31.12.2025) and supported by SCK CEN Mol, Bioart Society, and Z33 House for Contemporary Art, Design & Architecture. The networking lunch was kindly supported by the Aalto Networking Platform.
| Period | 11 Sept 2024 |
|---|---|
| Event type | Seminar |
| Location | Espoo, FinlandShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |