Roger,
Usually life problems always imply and require multidisciplinary
approaches, levels and contributions to understand and to deal with them
in a fully way: we take into consideration different needs, either
pshycological, economical, sociological, scientific, etc. In the same
way in any "scientific" result there appear millions of ressonances of
all kinds from ethical to political and society, as a whole, is implied.
There is no science disconnected to society, nor science disconnected to
the scientist's cultural-institutional-political background as a person.
Even in the choice of a subject there is already a personal implication
of gender, social class and culture, not to talk about the political bias.
Talking from the point of view of an architect, and urban planner, that
is also an artist, and a researcher, a theorist and a teacher, and, a
rooted-foreigner multicultural person, I would like to focus on
architecture and invite us to think that architecture and urbanism are
complex question-based or problem-based fields (the city, urban space, a
building, etc) in which different expertises (in fact very specialized
ones) and social layers dialog and contribute to the construction of an
integrated work-space-experience.
I wonder if this experience in architecture and urban planning, that is
to say, this kind of collective collaboration around one complex
"question" or "problem" whatever scale it is, could be useful to analyse
and to think of how different expertises could collaborate and merge
their specific and highly especialized knowledge fields into an
integrated complex problem, or project or aim.
So, what I am proposing is that experts should keep their specialization
(without loosing sight of the whole) in order to fully contribute to a
collective question/problem, but need to develop sensitive interacting
languages, bridges and instruments for dialog. Each field should prepare
students of any field to dialog with other fields. Something like giving
people the "language" with which to communicate. However, this level of
conversation requires to bring the discussion to a more abstract form
than the one that is required to deal within each culture of practice,
culture of sub-field of science, engineering, humanities or art.
I suggest to develop question-based networks, problem-based networks,
not discipline-centred networks or multi-discipline-centred networks.
Question-based networks function like open nodes of dialogical
collaboration between specialized contributors. So the model could be
groups of experts that are deeply grounded in different fields but are
not closed because they are prepared to open different channels in any
required direction at any time. For instance: the problem of identity.
Each field has a different approach towards identity, from the genetic
code to art representations this is a question that travels many fields.
So, identity could be a "question" to base a problem-based network to be
developed in different fields, across faculties.
So, if each faculty deals with a chain of coordinated "questions" or
"problems" each expert can relate to other fields in an easier way
because at least this means refering to a centre of concern that is
multidisciplinarily shared. At educative institutional level this would
imply a kind of familiarization of students with other fields during the
formative process, a kind of "Erasmus" between disciplines to allow
students to circulate more inside their own universities and be able to
get first hand experience of this dialog. Another possibility of this
problem-centred collaboration is to allow interdisciplinary
collaboration around projects during the formative period (for instance,
the last project of an engineer could be done together with an artist
but each one keeps their expertise deeply rooted to their respective
fields. What is multidisciplinar and hybrid is the result and the
capacity of dialog of the experts in order to work together in
collaboration around problems that lie in-between science, engineering,
art and design.
Which could be these questions that travel across disciplines and are
able to articulated deep thinking and experimentation from each field
creating resonances that can contribute to a more complex understanding
of our condition? For instance, identity is one of these strong triggers
around which question-based networks could form and develop.
Thank you for this debate,
Cristina
El 06/07/12 13:27, roger malina escribió:
> Pau
>
> thanks for your comment and in particular:
>
> But I have to say that in our case we didn't follow the track we opened by
>> creating, for example, a Society, Association, or else that could have
>> definitively helped to take the White Paper beyond that moment and continue
>> to influence cultural policies and strengthen the community as a whole. We
>> still have this in the list of key things to do.
> I guess its not clear to me how this SEAD community of practice should
> organise itself as a collective of interested people= there are dozens or
> even hundreds of existing organisations and societies that do a great job.
>
> I suspect we need to think differently for two obvious reasons:
>
> a) we need to re invent professional organisations in the networked
> world= maybe we need networks of networks rather than new
> organisations. Professional societies are an invention of the
> nineteenth century ( taking over from guilds etc).What is a twenty
> first century model of how emerging communities of practice can
> link to each other and be mutually supportive.
>
> b) the science/engineering to arts/design/humanities covers a vast
> territory= and in fact in many cases dont share the same "culture
> of practice" ( we see the disintegration under way in new media arts
> because new media is not a conceptually clear category)
>
> In the book by allen repko on interdisciplinary theory and practice
> one of the things he does is discuss how different kinds of scientists
> have different cultures
> eg observational sciences like astronomy
> vs experimental sciences like chemistry
> vs field sciences like ecology
> vs mathematical sciences like complex networks
>
> they are all sciences but in fact the scientists have different practices.
> does it make sense to combine them all or should we create
> translation methods between culturs of practice ?
>
> in arts and humanities we also find similar variations on how
> the discipline deals with information about the world
> and intervening in the world= time based arts differ
> from architecture etc
>
> Anway i know that the FECYT report and the process that led to
> it was very useful in spain= as are other efforts internationally
>
> for instance in the USA the mellon foundation has just funded a major
> project to promote integrating arts practice into the research university
>
> http://artsengine.umich.edu/
>
> ArtsEngine National has been awarded a $500,000, 3.5 year grant from
> the Andrew W. Mellon
> Foundation to create the first comprehensive guide to best practices
> in the integration of arts
> practice in U.S. research universities. To be published in Fall 2015,
> the guide is to identify models,
> obstacles, implementation strategies, costs, and impact on students
> and faculty as well as on
> research, practice, and teaching in other knowledge areas.
>
> With this award, the Mellon Foundation has enabled the national
> network to make major progress
> toward our mission of integrating arts practice into the research university.
>
> This activity of course is a heads on collision between the "studio
> based" artists practice
> versus the research model for the arts ( and all the debate on to PhD
> or not to PhD )
>
> So my question to your statement:
> "But I have to say that in our case we didn't follow the track we opened by
>> creating, for example, a Society, Association, or else that could have
>> definitively helped to take the White Paper beyond that moment and continue
>> to influence cultural policies and strengthen the community as a whole. We
>> still have this in the list of key things to do."
> is what is really missing in the organisational landscape ? how do
> we network networks ? what are the roadblocks to implementing the
> FECYT report recommendations ?
>
> roger
>
> On Wed, Jul 4, 2012 at 4:47 PM, Pau Alsina <palsinag@uoc.edu> wrote:
>> Dear Roger and Roc,
>>
>> I find truly valuable the creation and sharing of White Papers in AST, or
>> better, SEAD as you named it.
>>
>> In the case of Spain I can say that it contributed to influence (slowly,
>> and in some aspects) the cultural policies of some cities like Barcelona,
>> Madrid or other places. The creation of a collectively organised discourse
>> and a set of practical actions to do I believe has proved to be highly
>> strategically relevant.
>>
>> But I have to say that in our case we didn't follow the track we opened by
>> creating, for example, a Society, Association, or else that could have
>> definitively helped to take the White Paper beyond that moment and continue
>> to influence cultural policies and strengthen the community as a whole. We
>> still have this in the list of key things to do.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Pau Alsina
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 2012/7/4 Roc Parés i Burguès <roc.pares@upf.edu>
>>
>>> Dear Roger and Dear Yasminers,
>>>
>>> Allow me to contribute to your SEAD project with this reference on a
>>> similar initiative, leaded by José Luis Brea (1957-2010), in which I had
>>> the honour of participating, in 2007.
>>>
>>> "White Paper on the Interrelation of Art, Science and Technology in Spain"
>>> http://www.fecyt.es/fecyt/docs/tmp/115539236.pdf
>>>
>>> Published by:
>>> FECYT (Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology)
>>> National Book Catalogue Number: M-9179-2007
>>> ISBN: 978-84-690-3520-7
>>>
>>> This document is a bilingual edition in Spanish and in English and has
>>> these four different chapters:
>>>
>>>
>>> 1. Training: Salomé Cuesta and Bárbaro Miyares (Polytechnic University
>>> of Valencia)
>>> 2. Research: Juan Martín Prada (University of Cádiz)
>>> 3. Production: Roc Parés (Pompeu Fabra University)
>>> 4. Dissemination: Remedios Zafra (University of Seville)
>>>
>>>
>>> Pau Alsina (Open University of Catalonia) was the relator of the book and
>>> can provide more details on the whole process of preparation, discussion
>>> and final elaboration of the conclusions, actions and recommendations to
>>> Policy Makers gathered in this book.
>>>
>>> I hope you all find it useful.
>>>
>>> Warm regards,
>>>
>>> Roc Parés
>>>
>>> 2012/7/4 roger malina <rmalina@alum.mit.edu>
>>>
>>>> Dear YASMINERS
>>>>
>>>> I am proposing that on YASMIN DISCUSSION LIST we have some discussions
>>>> on the problems that we face when we try to establish collaboration
>>> between
>>>> science/engineering with arts/design/humanities= with recommendations on
>>>> how
>>>> to overcome these problems. But also how to take advantage of the new
>>>> opportunities.
>>>>
>>>> This is part of a project that a network of us have been developing ,
>>>> SEAD, and will result in a report next summer 2013. Many reports have
>>>> already been
>>>> written and we will also be doing a meta-analysis of previous reports.
>>>> We are working
>>>> on a compilation of previous reports which you will find on our web site.
>>>>
>>>> http://sead.viz.tamu.edu/projects/white_papers.html
>>>>
>>>> Beyond the discussion on YASMIN, we would be delighted if any YASMINERS
>>>> would like to develop what we are calling a white paper- this is a
>>>> document (or
>>>> can be a video) which identifies problems and opportunities with specific
>>>> recommendations on how to enable the solutions. I provide more details
>>>> below
>>>> but you can find our inititial web site at:
>>>>
>>>> http://sead.viz.tamu.edu/projects/white_papers.html
>>>>
>>>> If you are not already on the YASMIN DISCUSSION list you need to
>>> subscribe
>>>> at
>>>>
>>>> http://estia.media.uoa.gr/mailman/listinfo/yasmin_discussions
>>>>
>>>> Here follows additional details
>>>>
>>>> Roger Malina
>>>> YASMIN co moderator
>>>>
>>>> All of us encounter many roadblocks to develop
>>>> the new opportunities that link science/engineering to
>>>> arts/design/humanities
>>>>
>>>> In this international initiative we are calling for 'white papers' or
>>>> short texts that identify problems
>>>> and opportunities when one tries to have science/engineering
>>> professionals
>>>> collaborate with those in arts/humanities/design.
>>>>
>>>> These reports can be very short- one page with one recommendation, or
>>>> even utube videos- or longer, They can be written by one person or many.
>>>>
>>>> We are also compiling all the reports written on these issues in the last
>>>> twenty years and will be doing a meta-analysis of the previous
>>>> recommendations.
>>>>
>>>> We would be delighted if anyone on YASMIN would like to submit a short or
>>>> longer white paper with recommendations. Please contact me at rmalina
>>>> ( AT) alum.mit.edu
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> More details below
>>>> Roger Malina
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> SEAD Network for Sciences, Engineering, Arts and Design announces a
>>>> call for White Papers on issues facing the international community
>>>> seeking to enhance transdisciplinary collaboration
>>>>
>>>> We are seeking to survey concerns, roadblocks and opportunities, and
>>>> solicit recommendations for enhancing collaboration between sciences
>>>> and engineering with practioners in arts and design. These position
>>>> papers will be submitted as part of a report to US National Science
>>>> Foundation and the community
>>>> from the SEAD network in the summer of 2013. With grateful
>>>> appreciation for US funding, we recognize that activity connecting the
>>>> sciences, engineering, to arts, and design is international and,
>>>> furthermore, that global involvements are essential in today's
>>>> economy. Therefore we are interested both in what US collaborators can
>>>> learn from experiences in other countries, and vice versa, institution
>>>> or region specific issues, and also in how to foster collaborations
>>>> that bridge beyond regions . Cultural cross-fertilization
>>>> via the SEAD network – whether from disciplinary, organizational or
>>>> ethnic perspectives – is a vital component of our purpose and goals.
>>>>
>>>> Chair, Roger Malina, Leonardo/ISAST Chair Emeritus, Leonardo Governing
>>>> Board Member. Distinguished Professor of Art and Technology at the
>>>> University of Texas, Dallas
>>>>
>>>> Co-Chair, Carol Strohecker, Director, Center for Design Innovation,
>>>> University of North Carolina system; Professor, Winston-Salem State
>>>> University; Chief Research Officer & Instructor, UNC School of the
>>>> Arts; SEAD Co-PI
>>>>
>>>> For more information:
>>>>
>>>> http://sead.viz.tamu.edu/projects/white_papers.html
>>>>
>>>> This material is based upon work supported by the National Science
>>>> Foundation under Grant No.1142510 , IS, Human Centered Computing,
>>>> "Collaborative Research: EAGER: Network for Science, Engineering, Arts
>>>> and Design (NSEAD)
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> Yasmin_discussions@estia.media.uoa.gr
>>>> http://estia.media.uoa.gr/mailman/listinfo/yasmin_discussions
>>>>
>>>> Yasmin URL: http://www.media.uoa.gr/yasmin
>>>>
>>>> HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: click on the link to the list you wish to subscribe to.
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>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Pau Alsina González
>> Professor dels Estudis d'Arts i Humanitats
>> Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
>>
>> Web Estudis: http://arts-humanitats.uoc.edu
>> Blog Postgrau: http://laboralcentrodearte.uoc.edu/
>> Revista Artnodes: http://artnodes.uoc.edu
>>
>> (+34) 93 254 (2176) | palsinag@uoc.edu
>> Av. Tibidabo 39-43. Barcelona 08035
>> Blog: http://paualsina.wordpress.com
>> Twitter: @paualsina <http://twitter.com/#%21/paualsina>
>>
>>
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