Project
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The Anthropocene Atlas of Geneva. Representations of Global Environmental Change in Geneva's Urban Ecologies
English title |
The Anthropocene Atlas of Geneva. Representations of Global Environmental Change in Geneva's Urban Ecologies |
Applicant |
Ray Gene
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Number |
169994 |
Funding scheme |
Project funding (Div. I-III)
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Research institution |
HEAD Haute école d'art et de design
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Institution of higher education |
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland - HES-SO |
Main discipline |
Arts |
Start/End |
01.12.2016 - 31.12.2018 |
Approved amount |
300'000.00 |
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All Disciplines (3)
Architecture and Social urban science |
Keywords (11)
anthropocene; climate change ; research by means of art; representation; biodiversity; sublime; urban ecologies; science studies; sustainability; animal studies; environmental humanities
Lay Summary (French)
Lead
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Conduit par une équipe de chercheurs en philosophie et en art, "The Anthropocene Atlas of Geneva" (TAAG) étudie la façon dont les acteurs d’une région répondent aux changements environnementaux globaux, les représentations qu’ils en produisent, ainsi que la façon dont ils traduisent ces savoirs dans des pratiques quotidiennes.
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Lay summary
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Le projet de recherche transdisciplinaire "The Anthropocene Atlas of Geneva" (TAAG) étudie la façon dont les acteurs d’une région répondent aux changements environnementaux globaux, les représentations qu’ils en produisent avec une large variété de moyens, ainsi que la façon dont ils traduisent ces savoirs dans des pratiques quotidiennes.
TAAG s’inscrit dans le cadre des débats sur le concept d’“Anthropocene” (l’âge de l’homme), à savoir la proposition de marquer l’avènement d’une nouvelle époque géologique dominée par l’impact des sociétés industrialisées. Annonçant l’émergence de l’espèce humaine comme force géologique majeure, de nature à influer sur le climat et sur les divers écosystèmes qui conditionnent la vie sur terre à une échelle planétaire, le terme a suscité des débats vigoureux dans les sciences de la nature, les sciences sociales et les humanités depuis son introduction en 2000. En analysant les représentations locales des changements environnementaux globaux, ainsi que leur condition de production, cette recherche entend aider les acteurs concernés à mieux saisir la position qu’ils occupent dans le cadre de transformations sociales et politiques en devenir.
Conduit par une équipe de chercheurs en philosophie et en art, tout en s’appuyant sur un réseau de chercheurs en sciences de la nature, sciences sociales et en architecture, TAAG se présente comme l’une des rares recherches à enquêter sur les représentations de l’Anthropocène en se limitant à un espace géographique donné: celui de la ville cosmopolite de Genève. L’Atlas produit dans le cadre de ce projet prendra la forme d’une archive en ligne de textes, images, films et entretiens, et conduira par la suite à la réalisation d’une exposition, d’un livre et d’une série d’articles scientifiques.
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Responsible applicant and co-applicants
Employees
Collaboration
Programme of experimentation in arts and politics, Paris Institute of Political Science (SciencesPo) |
France (Europe) |
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- in-depth/constructive exchanges on approaches, methods or results - Exchange of personnel |
The Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon Graduate School, Universtiy of the Arts London |
Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Europe) |
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- in-depth/constructive exchanges on approaches, methods or results - Exchange of personnel |
Andrew Wilford, Terror On Tour, University of Chichester, University of Roehampton |
Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Europe) |
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- in-depth/constructive exchanges on approaches, methods or results - Publication |
Scientific events
Active participation
Title |
Type of contribution |
Title of article or contribution |
Date |
Place |
Persons involved |
Borders, Detours & Contingencies
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Talk given at a conference
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Terror in the Anthropocene-Capitalocene-Chthulucene-Necrocene
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29.03.2017
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Innsbruck, Austria
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Ray Gene;
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Self-organised
The Anthropocene Atlas of Geneva
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18.10.2017
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Geneva, Switzerland
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Knowledge transfer events
Active participation
Title |
Type of contribution |
Date |
Place |
Persons involved |
Communication with the public
Communication |
Title |
Media |
Place |
Year |
Media relations: print media, online media
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Répondre aux enjeux d’une planète en mutation
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Tribune de Genève
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Western Switzerland
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2018
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Abstract
THE ANTHROPOCENE ATLAS OF GENEVA Representations of Global Environmental Change in Geneva's Urban EcologiesIntroduced within the natural sciences global change research community in 2000, the term “Anthropocene” demarks the current period of time, in which human activities have come to influence a range of biophysical systems and processes. How are the scale and complexity of global environmental change being represented in local contexts? How are such representations reflected in the everyday activities and practices of various local actors? Articulating methods and gathering practitioners from the disciplines of Art, Philosophy and Architecture, The Anthropocene Atlas of Geneva (TAAG) will study the processes and contexts by which anthropogenic global environmental change is represented in a cosmopolitan Swiss city. With its dense nexus of governmental institutions (including the UN World Meteorological Organization and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and NGOs, and its rich networks of scientific research communities, artistic projects and citizen initiatives, Geneva is an ideal terrain for this research.In two main phases TAAG will: (1) survey, analyze and archive representations currently circulating or emerging in Geneva’s institutions, research communities, and citizen networks; and (2) use the methods and collaborative resources of artistic practice to produce new interdisciplinary representations of the Anthropocene. The research and resulting Atlas will contribute new knowledge about the processes and contexts by which global change is represented, as well as new representations taking full account of risks intrinsic to the building and transmission of meaning. This new knowledge will support and enhance the self-reflectivity of global change research communities in Geneva and beyond, and will help to clarify and will advance ongoing public evaluation and discussion of anthropogenic change on the local, national and international levels. The new representations, as well as the innovative atlas form of the final outputs, should moreover stimulate further research and reflection among those working on anthropogenic change in the disciplines of Art, Philosophy and Architecture.This research approaches the Anthropocene through the study of representation: the processes of building, transmitting and receiving meaning in context. Acknowledging that the stakes, implications and challenges of anthropogenic global environmental change are unprecedented and have become, for many people, a matter of growing urgency, TAAG will analyze the production of meaning, but will also be closely attentive to the emotional charges and intensities that representations of anthropogenic processes can acquire in some contexts. Far from ignoring the controversial and polemical aspects of public reception of the Anthropocene thesis, then, this research positions itself to gauge and investigate the affect of emerging representations. The results will take form in a multi-media atlas, distributed across three research outputs: (1) a project website/web log to share findings and solicit critical feedback; (2) an international exhibition, opening with a conference in Geneva and traveling to additional European cities; and (3) an accompanying book, composed of critical essays and glossaries, and a catalog of the exhibition.The project will last 2 years (24 months). SNSF support is sought for one senior researcher (at 10%) and three junior researchers (two at 40%, one at 30%).
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