Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Participants will be exposed to a diverse range of topics, issues and practices within the developing field of art, science & technology - especially selected for and from a creative perspective. By the end of the course participants have an understanding of a wide range of current interests and the field in general - with which to reflect upon their own transdisciplinary research and practice.

Credits: 5

Schedule: 03.03.2021 - 07.04.2021

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Laura Beloff, Pia Euro, Helena Sederholm

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Laura Beloff, Helena Sederholm

Contact information for the course (valid 28.01.2021-21.12.2112):

Laura Beloff laura.beloff@aalto.fi

Helena Sederholm helena.sederholm@aalto.fi

CEFR level (applies in this implementation):

Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):

Teaching language: English

Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    The course consists of lectures, provided readings and discussions.

    The course is an in-depth lecture-series that is designed to run parallel and in addition to practice-based courses, especially focused on a range of topics and research inherent for the field crossing over art, science and technology. The lectures within the course introduce - relevant topics from the sciences, interests of practitioners in art & science & technology, as well as conceptual, philosophical and theoretical concerns related to these areas. The lecturers include external visitors and Aalto-based experts.

    The list of lectures will be published later.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    The course consists of following lectures:

    3.3. Introduction by Laura & Helena. Lecture: Maria Manuela Lopes (PT) + discussion

    ||| Zoom Meeting ID: 630 0204 6858

    MariaManuela Lopes is a visual artist whose practice is transdisciplinary,
    investigating relations of memory and identity informed by the
    biological
    sciences and medical research; her work appears in a varied format
    within the visual arts resulting in multimedia installations, drawings
    and performances and biological materials. Lopes
    studied sculpture at FBA-UP and did an MA at Goldsmiths College in
    London. She has a Doctorate in Fine Arts and New Media at the Universityof Brighton and UCA-Farnham in the UK.
    She
    has developed a Postdoctoral Art Research Project at the University of
    Aveiro and Porto - i3S Institute of Research and Innovation in Health.
    She is currently a researcher at i3S as co-responsible for the Cultural Outreach Art/Science interface.
    She
    co-coordinates the European Project Hybrid Lab Network in partnership
    with the University of Aalto (Finland) with the Alma Matter European
    University (Slovenia) and with Waag (Netherlands), where creative
    strategies are developed from the visual arts to envision novel methods
    and tools to propel various areas of knowledge in higher education.
    Maria Manuela Lopes has curated several international exhibitions and her work has been shown nationally and internationally. Maria
    Manuela Lopes is a Professor
    of the Arts and Multimedia Department of ISCE Douro and is part of the
    Direction board of the International Music Academy Aquilles Delle Vigne.
    She is also co-founder and Deputy
    Director of Portuguese artistic residency programs: Ectopia - Laboratory
    of Artistic Experimentation and Cultivamos Cultura in the Natural Park
    of São Luis, Odemira in Alentejo/Portugal.


    10.3. Lecture: Biofiction films and discussion by Biofaction / Markus Schmidt & Sandra Youssef (MA)

    Biofaction is a research and science communication
    company based in Vienna, Austria. Biofaction has
    significant expertise in science communication, film production,
    technology assessment and the study of ethical, legal and social issues
    in a number of emerging sciences and technology (genetic engineering,
    synthetic biology, converging technology).

    Dr. Markus Schmidt has an interdisciplinary background in biomedical
    engineering, biology and technology assessment. He initiates and
    executes a number of projects dealing with responsible research and
    innovation in emerging science and technology areas, bringing together
    various stakeholders from science, regulation, industry, civil society
    and art. Sandra Youssef (MA) has a background in Anthropology, with a focus on
    technology and new media. A veteran traveler, editor, and translator,
    she has lived and worked in the USA, Canada, and Japan. Her research
    interests include the interplays between individuals, sociocultural
    groups and technological systems. At Biofaction she works on science
    communication and the science-society intersection with public
    engagement and participation formats.

    The latest edition of BIO·FICTION took place in September 2019, with a new theme: FUTUREBODY. We changed our focus for this edition and delved into neurotechnology and how it shapes the future of the human body, mind, intelligence and society.
    We compiled a very exciting and rich program that included film
    screenings, cross-disciplinary discussions, a brain-computer interface
    demo and an awards ceremony for the winners of our short film
    competition! 


    17.3. Lecture: Petteri Nisunen (FI) + discussion

    Tommi
    Grönlund (b.1967) and Petteri Nisunen (b.1962) live and work in Helsinki.
    They
    have been collaborating since 1993, and their work has been displayed in
    numerous solo shows, biennales, group shows and art fairs around the world. In
    2001 they curated Nordic Pavilion in 49th Venice Biennial. They had
    a large retrospective exhibition in Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum in 2020.

    “Their
    large-scale spatial interventions and public as well as gallery installations involve
    a variety of materials and technologies, from the use of objects to light and
    sound. Nisunen and Grönlund deal with space, be it physical, ethereal or sonic.
    Works tend to change or reshape space and stimulate sensory perception through
    direct intervention, often with complex technical installations. The artists
    are not committed to one medium only, but are endlessly curious, capable of
    moving between disciplines and changing approaches."
    Along their
    collaborative art practice, which has continued over 25 years, Grönlund has
    been running his label Sähkö Recordings and it´s various sublabels. Nisunen has
    been working as a freelance architect/designer and in various teaching
    positions, including professorship of contemporary art in Aalto University,
    Department of Art, 2012-2017. He continued in Aalto University in 2019-2020 as
    part time Executive in Residence, arranging a post-graduate program for
    producers of public art in collaboration with University of Arts and University
    of Lapland.

    http://g-n.fi

    https://vimeo.com/usergronlundnisunen

    https://www.sahkorecordings.com/


    24.3. Lecture: Minna Långström (FI) + discussion

    Minna Långström is a media artist and film maker from Helsinki,
    Finland. Her artistic work consists of participatory cinematic
    installations, short films and documentaries with focus on social
    perspectives on technologically mediated narratives and visual
    technologies. Her films and artwork have been selected to numerous film
    festivals and exhibited at galleries and museums such as Kiasma Museum
    of Contemporary Art, Frankfurter Kunstverein, and Kunstfort at
    Vijfhuizen in the Netherlands. Her latest film "The
    Other Side of Mars" (56 min, 2019) brought her in contact with
    geologists, astrobiologists and Nasa engineers involved with the current
    Mars missions. Premiering at the DocPoint Documentary Film Festival
    2019, the film looks at the role of images in these missions.
    Långström was an assistant professor in Moving Image at the Academy of
    Fine Art in Helsinki 2008-2012, where she also developed course concepts
    critically connecting media art, science and technology. She has been
    an artist in residency at FACT, Liverpool,
    IASPIS, Stockholm and Space Studios for Art and Technology in London. 
    http://www.minnalangstrom.net/
    https://napafilms.fi/mars-kuvien-takaa-the-other-side-of-mars-2019/
    https://www.facebook.com/othersideofmars


    31.3. Lecture: Paula Humberg (FI) + discussion

    Paula
    Humberg (b. 1983) is a Helsinki-based photographer and bioartist.
    Humberg is interested in using methods and knowledge from biological
    research as a part of her artistic practice. She has worked in
    collaboration with scientists and is currently finishing her master's
    degree in biology at the University of Eastern Finland. Humberg is a
    member of board in the Finnish Bioart Society.


    7.4. Examination day - will be scheduled!

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    -Presence: 80% on the course.

    - Master-level students: Short oral presentation that addresses students’ individual interests/research and their relation to 2-3 topics addressed during the lecture-series.

    -Doctoral-level students: a 2-3 page text that critically addresses students’ individual research in relation to 1-2 topics addressed during the lecture-series.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Assessment Methods and Criteria:

    Presence: 80% on the course. (> one time absence)

    Master level students: Short oral presentation that addresses students’ individual
    interests/research and their relation to 2-3 topics addressed during the
    lecture-series and provided readings.

    Doctoral-level
    students
    :
    2-3 page text that critically addresses students’ individual
    research in relation to 1-2 topics addressed during the lecture-series and
    provided readings.

Workload
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Contact study 12h, independent work 123h

  • Applies in this implementation:

    5 ects = 135 h

    6 x evening lectures 2h weekly.

    Readings provided by the course 10-15h weekly.

    Work on the final presentation: writing, thinking, etc. 20-40h.





DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Will be provided in syllabus

  • Applies in this implementation:

    The readings will be provided during the course.

    Zoom link will be provided for the registered participants.



Prerequisites
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    x

Registration for Courses
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Art Department major students who need the course for their degree are the first priority.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Course is same course as TAI-E1148

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    A PhD student will be employed to organize the course and also to support designing its content together with Sederholm and Beloff.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Course is same course as TAI-E1148

Details on the schedule
  • Applies in this implementation:

    2020-2021 Spring IV

    2021-2022 Spring IV