Illustration: Benedikt Rugar

November 14-22, 2014

Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), Berlin

Application deadline: May 7, 2014

Encouraging new forms of transdisciplinary discourse and research THE ANTHROPOCENE PROJECT 2013/14 at Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin (HKW) aims to investigate the manifold implications of the Anthropocene hypothesis for cultures of knowledge. If indeed humankind has become the dominant biogeophysical force, effecting changes on a planetary scale, how can the arts, sciences and humanities contribute to a critical awareness, understanding and responsible co-shaping of these transformations? How can creative and problem-oriented modes of knowledge production and educational practices be developed?

The ANTHROPOCENE CURRICULUM addresses these questions by way of a cross-disciplinary experiment in higher education. Instigated by HKW and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin (MPIWG) the project has brought together a group of 27 renowned university teachers from science, humanities, and art & design to collaboratively develop a set of topics relevant to the Anthropocene in an attempt to encourage cross-disciplinary thinking, mutual learning, and civic commitment as integral part into the curricula of universities and research institutions.

This exemplary curriculum will be put into teaching practice at the ANTHROPOCENE CAMPUS taking place November 14-22, 2014 at HKW in Berlin. One hundred international participants will be given the opportunity to engage in this curricular experiment, contributing their own perspectives and expertise. The Campus provides a transdisciplinary co-learning space for young scholars from a wide range of disciplinary, academic, and professional backgrounds and opens up a forum for exploring the scopes, scales, and designs of Anthropocene relevant knowledge. The ANTHROPOCENE CAMPUS will be a central component of a series of public events at HKW–including lectures, workshops, exhibitions, screenings, and artistic events –, by which the two-year ANTHROPOCENE PROJECT will come to its close.

Applicants should be strongly committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and demonstrate a broad interest in Anthropocene related research questions. Active participation is expected both during the Campus as well as in pre- and postwork to be assigned by the instructors. An essential part of the output of the ANTHROPOCENE CURRICULUM will be the collaborative production of an ANTHROPOCENE COURSEBOOK. The online platform anthropocene-curriculum.org will serve as central tool for the development and communication of syllabi, coursework, and the coursebook, and will provide a long term discussion space for all participants.

Applicants

The call primarily addresses doctoral students (or equivalent) from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds in the sciences, humanities, engineering, design, and the arts. However, excellent final- year master’s degree candidates as well as postdocs are also encouraged to apply. Moreover, the call extends to researchers and actors from outside of academia, including research oriented institutions from civil society, the arts and politics (e.g. think-tanks, NGOs).

Documents

• Application Form
• Seminars / Abstracts
• Participants / Instructors
• Project Outline
• FAQ

Working language

The working language will be English.

Procedure

All applications must be made using the online application form on our website: anthropocene-curriculum.org/app, and submitted no later than May 7, 2014. 
Applicants must submit a CV, a brief description of their interest in the Anthropocene–as well as the ANTHROPOCENE CURRICULUM project in particular–and name a reference person.

Acceptance letters will be sent out until May 30, 2014. Registration for the CAMPUS begins on June 16, 2014 on the website, where participants will have the opportunity to choose their individual course from among the series of seminars.

Registration & funding

The registration fee of € 100 covers meals and accommodation. Participants are expected to procure their own travel funding. A very limited number of need-based travel grants can be provided. Please indicate and specify your need on the application form.

Institutional background

THE ANTHROPOCENE PROJECT is an initiative of Haus der Kulturen der Welt in cooperation with the Max Planck Society, Deutsches Museum, the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society, Munich and the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Potsdam.

The ANTHROPOCENE CURRICULUM is part of THE ANTHROPOCENE PROJECT and developed by Haus der Kulturen der Welt and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin in cooperation with the Cluster of Excellence “Image Knowledge Gestaltung. An Interdisciplinary Laboratory”, Humboldt University, Berlin, the Environmental Humanities Laboratory at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Deutsches Museum, Munich, the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society, Munich and the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Potsdam.

It is supported by the Schering Foundation, Fritz Thyssen Foundation, the Cluster of Excellence “Image Knowledge Gestaltung. An Interdisciplinary Laboratory”, Humboldt University, Berlin and the Environmental Humanities Laboratory at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm.

> via anthropocene-curriculum.org