Un-Conference: Re-Rooting Digital Culture - Media Art Ecologies :: May 13, 2011; 6:00 - 8:00 pm :: CREAM (Centre for Research in Education Art and Media), University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street Campus, RS 152 Cayley Room, UK :: Book now! email ale[at]furtherfield[dot]org.

Over the last decade the awareness of anthropogenic climate change has emerged in parallel with global digital communication networks. In the context of environmental and economic collapse people around the world are seeking alternative visions of prosperity and sustainable ways of living. While the legacy of the carbon fuelled Industrial Revolution plays itself out, we find ourselves grappling with questions about the future implications of fast-evolving global digital infrastructure. By their very nature the new tools, networks and behaviours of productivity, exchange and cooperation between humans and machines grow and develop at an accelerated rate.

The ideas for this trans-disciplinary panel have grown out of Furtherfield’s Media Art Ecologies programme and will explore the impact of digital culture on climate change, developing themes adopted in grass-roots, emerging and established practices in art, design and science.

Chair: John Hartley

Speakers:

Michel Bauwens - On how Peer to Peer thought and technology point towards alternative production methods and a sustainable future.
Catherine Bottrill - On working with producers and consumers to consider the environmental long-tail of digital culture.
Ruth Catlow - On ecological approaches to tools, networks and behaviours in a digital art community.

The discussion will inform a second event in September at ISEA 2011 where we will be joined by artists Tom Corby and Helen Varley Jamieson.

Who this is for: any interested members of the public, cross-disciplinary (science, art, technology) practitioners, academics, students, researchers with an interest in digital culture, technology, sustainability.

Re-rooting digital culture is part of Furtherfield’s Media Art Ecologies Programme. This unconference event is partnered by CREAM (Centre for Research in Education Art and Media).