The Department of Communication and Psychology at Aalborg University announces a new transdisciplinary teaching and research project funded by an Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership Grant. Artificial Biology, Robotics and Art (ABRA) is a strategic partnership that cultivates transdisciplinary knowledge and capacity building in higher education. The Kick-Off for the project was held on the 16th and 17th of November 2020 at the CREATE building in Aalborg.
ABRA focuses on innovation and creativity in education by developing transdisciplinary methods and curriculum that bridge the arts, science and engineering for enhanced sustainability, specialising in the fields of artificial biology, robotics and art. The project is led by the Research Laboratory for Art and Technology (RELATE) in collaboration with the Human-Robot Interaction Lab. The consortium brings together partners from the Center for Integrative Biology CIBIO at University of Trento in Italy, Aalto University in Finland and the Institute of Advanced Design Studies in Hungary.
The project explicitly promotes transdisciplinary knowledge and capacity building in higher education in order to tackle the skills gaps in addressing environmental problems and climate change, and promoting excellence in teaching and skills development for students and educators. Through transdisciplinary teaching and training workshops, ABRA facilitates the exchange of best practices that foster creativity and innovation while developing a shared language that prepares students and teachers to tackle complex problems related to sustainability and come up with solutions relevant in the twenty-first century.
During the three-year project (2020-2023), the consortium will develop transdisciplinary curriculum for a new joint masters degree that bridges the arts and humanities with sciences and engineering. The project will also host events, workshops and symposia throughout, with activities planned at AAU for September 2021.
The goals of the project are:
- to create new pathways for art + science + engineering-driven creativity and innovation
- to promote transdisciplinary knowledge exchange across Europe
- to address environmental issues and climate change through strategic, sustainable actions
- to empower students and researchers to develop new processes, technologies, and methods of applying existing technology towards sustainable solutions
ABRA also builds strong alliances of researchers and teaching staff across three faculties at AAU. The project team members are Associate Professor Elizabeth Jochum (HUM) and Assistant Professor Anca Horvath (HUM), Adjunct Professor Palle Dahlstedt (HUM) Associate Professor Markus Löchtefeld (TECH), Associate Professor Timothy Merritt (TECH), Professor MSO Matthias Rehm (TECH), Associate Professor Dimitris Chrysostomou (ENG). This cross-faculty initiative will create more opportunities for researchers and students to collaborate on interdisciplinary projects and with external partners.
More info available at https://www.abra-hub.net
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Artificial Biology, Robotics and Art (ABRA) builds alliances across three faculties at AAU. The project team members are Associate Professor Elizabeth Jochum (HUM), Assistant Professor Anca Horvath (HUM), Adjunct Professor Palle Dahlstedt (HUM), Associate Professor Markus Löchtefeld (TECH), Associate Professor Timothy Merritt (TECH), Professor MSO Matthias Rehm (TECH), Associate Professor Dimitris Chrysostomou (ENG). The project is administered by Charlottee Lee Frederiksen (HUM) with support from Maros Pekarik (HUM).