Position Papers
New Materialism on the Crossroads of the Natural and Human Sciences
Working group 2 develops inter- and transdisciplinary work at the intersection of the technosciences and the humanities and arts. Areas of expertise comprise feminist theory, science and technology studies (STS), cultural studies along with other disciplines of the humanities and the natural sciences including physics, biology, chemistry, and computer science. Group members undertake empirical-theoretical investigations into complex ‘objects’ and relations that partly constitute us and the world we live in: airport security, Alzheimer’s Disease, big data, brains, cells, food, nanomaterials, organic cows, photovoltaics, race, robots, and more– together with the knowledge practices and technologies that bring them forth.
The aim is twofold: we seek to elucidate an understanding of the processes, apparatuses and agencies by which these dynamic object/relations materialise and become meaningful, and we contribute to scrutinising and sharpening new materialist onto-epistemologies, methodologies, politics and ethics. This includes an investigation into the genealogies of new materialist concepts and frameworks, and their resonances with feminist epistemologies, historical materialism, artistic practice, and postcolonial theory, amongst others. It also includes an examination of the interrelations of geos and bios in sociobiotechnical networks, and the analysis of pervasive knowledge production practices such as genetic testing, data coding and imaging technologies that shape and change knowledge objects as well as worlds.
In all these cases the task is not to supplement what is putatively missing from extant bodies of knowledge. Rather we interrogate the very processes through which specific phenomena and bodies marked by race, sex/gender and species come to matter (or not), and engender and practice a situated ethics of responsibility for what matters and is iteratively excluded from mattering within specific (new materialist) enquiries.
Position papers
New materialisms / New
Colonialisms
Historical + New Materialsims, & Genderings
COST Action IS1307 New Materialism: Networking European Scholarship on 'How Matter Comes to Matter'.
Here you will find background material, current activities, calls for papers, working group information, and project outputs.
With the changing of societies on local, national and international scales owing to economic, ecological, political and technological developments and crises, a reorganized academic landscape can be observed to be emerging. Scholarship strives to become increasingly interdisciplinary in order to grasp and examine the unfolding complexity of ongoing ecological, socio-cultural and politico-economic changes. Additionally, academics forge... Read more or find out Who's Who
- Call for Papers - Technology Matters and Matters of Technology: Exploring Theories of "Materiality" for Technology Research - June 25, 2018
- The return of materialism(s)? Matter between science, theory and art - University of Iceland
- Call for Entries - New Materialism Almanac 2018
- Urban Matters: Material Engagements with Communities and Borders in Times of Movement
Information relating to activities undertaken, including conferences, training schools, short-term scientific missions, and annual meetings, are archived here.
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Conference7
Other7
STSM7
Training School7
- 7th Annual Conference: Performing Situated Knowledges: Space, Time, Vulnerability
- From Cosmos to Genes: New Materialist Methodologies Crossing the Humanities, Natural, and Technosciences
- MC Meetings: Barcelona, Maribor and Warsaw
- Training School 2: Research Genealogies and Material Practices
Working Groups focus on four key areas of research
Working Group One
Genealogies of New Materialisms; examines and intervenes in canonization processes by compiling a web-based bibliography, coordinating the OST 068/13 8 EN... Read more
Working Group Two
New Materialisms on the Crossroads of the Natural and Human Sciences; seeks to develop new materialisms at the boundaries of the human and natural sciences. The group focuses on how European new materialisms can rework the ‘Two Cultures' gap... Read more
Working Group Three
New Materialisms Embracing the Creative Arts; brings together European researchers, artists, museum professionals, and other activists with a keen interest in the material... Read more
Working Group Four
New Materialisms Tackling Economical and Identity – Political Crises and Organizational Experiments... Read more
2016–18
The Almanac comprises contributions from members of working groups, and participants in related activities, delineating key terms, more esoteric neologisms, and short provocations. Read more
New Materialism —
Networking European Scholarship on 'How matter comes to matter’
An intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in Science and Technology
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