Understanding the transformation of the Arctic imposed by climate change on geopolitical and environmental levels with the artist Kaisu Koivisto, researcher in Arctic identities and politics Ingrid A. Medby, designer and doctoral researcher Emilia Tikka, and Jukka Tuhkuri, Professor of ice mechanics at Aalto University. Image credit: Philip Schwarz.
This LASER Talk, part of the Designs for a Cooler Planet program during Helsinki Design Week on September 9, 2021, discusses different perspectives on the Arctic and its lifewords, informed by research in the fields of art, design, science and technology. Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous (LASER) Talks are hosted at Aalto University by the LASER Team: Laura Beloff, Pia Fricker, Ksenia Kaverina, Kirsi Peltonen, Nitin Sawhney and Koray Tahiroğlu.
The panel guests – artist Kaisu Koivisto, researcher in Arctic identities and politics Ingrid A. Medby, designer and researcher Emilia Tikka, and professor and ice mechanics researcher Jukka Tuhkuri – are all closely working with the Arctic region and relate to the theme of ADAPTATION with critical questions concerning environmental, geopolitical and perceptual changes affecting living and non-living entities in the region, of which Finland is also a part. The impact of climate change is leading to a significant range of transformations in the Arctic, for example by allowing new transportation routes to emerge that will impact both local and global situations on many levels. Brief presentations by speakers are followed by a discussion and Q&A with the audience.
The event is co-hosted by Laura Beloff, Professor of Visual Culture and Artistic Practices and Pia Fricker, Professor of Practice, Computational Methodologies in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism, and coordinated by Ksenia Kaverina, curator and doctoral candidate at Aalto University.
The live talk is also part of the programme Garden LEONARDO LASER: [Anti]disciplinary Topographies in Ars Electronica.
Event site: https://www.aalto.fi/en/events/laser-talk-adaptation-and-interconnected-agencies
LASER Talks are an initiative launched by Leonardo/The International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology. Aalto University joined the list of LASER Talks hosts in 2020, and the January event was the first-ever held in Finland.
LASER Talks series at Aalto University is organised by:
- Laura Beloff, Professor of Visual Culture and Artistic Practices
- Pia Fricker, Professor of Practice, Computational Methodologies in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism
- Ksenia Kaverina, Doctoral Candidate in the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
- Kirsi Peltonen, Senior University Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis
- Nitin Sawhney, Professor of Practice in the Department of Computer Science, and
- Koray Tahiroğlu, Academy Research Fellow in the Department of Media.
The mission of LASER is to encourage contribution to the cultural environment of a region by fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and opportunities for community building to over 40 cities worldwide.
Aalto Laser Website: https://www.aalto.fi/en/news/international-laser-talks-series-will-start-january-28-2021
Nitin Sawhney 