Utopias, Axioms, Science Fiction: A Quest for Educational Imaginaries
Much of contemporary educational research is either concerned with observing, measuring and analysing the status quo , or with determining best pra ctices . I n light of growing societal and ecological crises , how can we determine what education ought to be and do? What resources can we use to philosophically spell out normative dimensions of education H ow can we do so without falling prey to modern educational discourse s linked to the notion of progress? And h ow might we imagine education differently , beyond the frames we are so attached to?
The aim of this Summer School is to engage collaboratively with the genres of utopias and science fiction to delve into these questions Drawing from the work of authors like Donna Haraway (‘speculative fabulations’) fabulations’), Isabelle Stengers imagination and utopia in catastrophic times ’)’), Jacques Rancière (acting upon an axiom), and Davinia Cooper the enactment of ‘ever y day utopias’), we aim to re(dis)cover utopia as a fundamental dimension of educational theory (in which we follow Franco Cambi )). In doing so, we seek to flesh out a new vision for a more imaginative philosophy of education and educational research. This Summer School is part of a wider movement to explore and expand the potential of a post critical approach in philosophy of education and educational theory.
During the Summer School in coastal Gdynia and the city of Gdansk , we will experiment with ways of engaging in educational imaginaries that are directly tied to participants’ own work and research topics Besides lectures and reading groups, the Summer School will offer laboratories for collective writing and workshops to explore the utopian dimension of the participants ’ research projects. Concretely, this will entail: 1) Thinking of utopias (reflecting on the role of utopia in educational theorising); 2) Performing utopias (reflecting on how the utopian dimension in various educational undertaking s and “designing” everyday utopias in education); 3) Writing utopias (elaborating new educational imageries).
Our collective thinking will be ignited with keynotes delivered by:
Sian Bayne , University of Edinburgh
Rhiannon Firth, University College London
Tyson Lewis, University of North Texas
Deadline for application: 15 April 2024 applicants will be notified by the end of April 2024)
The Summer school is free of charge, but places are limited.
We especially encourage PhD candidates to apply but t he Summer School is also open to early career scholars . To apply please send a CV and a motivation letter stating your interest in this Summer School max. 500 words to kai.wortmann@uni jena.de
If you are a PhD student please also state whether you want to apply for a scholarship, detailing expected travel and accommodation costs. Depending on the applications we receive, a number of these scholarships of up to £ 375 each will be awarded.
Organizing committee: Alison Brady (University College London), Aline Nardo (University of Edinburgh), Stefano Oliverio (University of Naples), Kai Wortmann (University of Jena), Piotr Zamojski (Polish Naval Academy)
For further information, please contact kai.wortmann@uni jena.de
This Summer School is sponsored by a Large Grant awarded by the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain hosted and co sponsored by the Polish Naval Academy in Gdansk , and co hosted by European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk.