NWO grant
Sophie van Balen MA (Lecturer Humanities) has received the NWO grant PhD in the Humanities. Innovatively combining theoretical as well as qualitative research methods, the empirical philosophical proposal 'Out of breath.Towards a politics of breathability' inquires into the politics of air, air pollution and breathability in face of the climate crisis. Inspired by the foam theory of cultural theorist Peter Sloterdijk and contemporary debates in the environmental humanities Sophie will rethink politics from a more-than-human perspective. This PhD-project is embedded in the Erasmus School of Philosophy, and supervised by prof. dr. Marli Huijer (ESPhil) and dr. Robin van Akker (EUC).
Rotterdams Weerwoord grant for the project 'Voel je het veranderen'
Dr. Irene van Oorschot (Senior Lecturer Humanities), Sophie van Balen MA (Lecturer Humanities) and Maaike van Papeveld MA (WdKA) received a grant from Rotterdams Weerwoord for their project 'Voel je het veranderen' ('are you sensing the climate change?). In this project, they will empirically explore how Rotterdam citizens from all walks of life sense and experience global warming in their everyday lives. Innovatively highlighting the senses, the project will draw on both academic and artistic research practices to craft a a public manifestation and a broadly accessible publication on climate change and daily life in urban settings. Bringing together insights and approaches from the environmental humanities, philosophy, design and artistic practices, this transdisicplinary project is hosted by the Erasmus Center for Liberal Arts and Sciences and executed in close cooperation with the Rotterdam Arts and Sciences Lab (Willem de Kooning, Codarts, and Erasmus University).
CLI project “Transdisciplinary education to foster nature-inclusive design in the city of Rotterdam”
Dr. Ana Vasques was awarded a Community for Learning and Innovation (CLI) project on “Transdisciplinary education to foster nature-inclusive design in the city of Rotterdam”.
Here is what Ana shares about the project: "In our quest to conquer nature we have become detached from its rhythms and processes. This project consists of a course re-design and follow-up research that aims at placing societal impact, through fostering urban nature and biodiversity, at the center of the learning experience of students. This course will be used as a pilot to explore the opportunities and challenges of transdisciplinary collaboration between natural sciences and design and will be done in collaboration with the Urban Design lab at TU Delft and Bureau Stadsnatuur Rotterdam. We ultimately aim to set an example on how Eco literacy, or knowledge on Ecology, can be used to create bridges between disciplines, and to dissolve boundaries between theory and practice, while generating high impact education."