The Alexander von Humboldt Lectures:
Spatial Practices
Series 2011/12
The Alexander von Humboldt lectures are an initiative of Prof. Huib Ernste
Series organisers: dr. Krisztina Varró, Joren Jacobs MSc., Prof. Huib Ernste
Click here for a more detailed description of this year's theme.
Programme
The Department of Human Geography, Spatial Planning and Environmental
Politics at the Radboud University of Nijmegen cordially invites you to our
Lecture and Seminar Series on the theme of ‘Spatial Practices’.
Lectures and Seminars
The following Alexander von Humboldt Guests take part in our programme: (clicking on a name will bring you to their personal homepage)
| Prof. Theodore (Ted) Schatzki | Department of Philosophy, University of Kentucky Lexington, USA | >> |
| Prof. Stephan Günzel | BTK Academy of Design, Berlin, D | >> |
| Prof. Jean Hillier | School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, RMIT University Melbourne, AU | >> |
| Prof. Sarah Whatmore | School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, UK | >> |
Further invited guests for the occassion of this year's Alexander von Humboldt Lecture Series on ‘Spatial Practices’:
| Prof. Claudio Minca | Cultural Geography Group, Wageningen University, NL | >> |
| Prof. Mathis Stock | University Institute Kurt Bösch, Sion, CH | >> |
| Dr. Michael Jonas | Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna, A | >> |
| Prof. Maarten Coolen | Department of Philosophy, University of Amsterdam, NL | >> |
| Prof. Joris van Wezemael | Departement of Human Geography, University of Fribourg , CH | >> |
| Prof. Theodore Schatzki | Department of Philosophy, University of Kentucky Lexington, USA |
| Monday Sept. 12, 2011 18:00-19:30 LuX Mariënburg 38-39 6511PS Nijmegen Room: 6 How to get there? Chair: Prof. Huib Ernste Free entry For reservation of free tickets: Ticket office LuX or Tel: 0900 5 89 46 36 |
Alexander von Humboldt Lecture: “The Spaces of
Practices and Large Social Phenomena” Abstract: This presentation argues that the spaces of large social phenomena are versions of the spaces of social practices, or rather, versions of the spaces of bundles of practices and material arrangements. It begins by discussing how practice-arrangement bundles both have and make spaces, differentiating between objective spaces and something called ‘activity space’. The presentation then explains how the spaces of such large phenomena as universities, economic systems, and international federations embrace the objective spaces, and draw on the interwoven activity spaces, of the practice-arrangement bundles they encompass. The talk concludes by disparaging the idea that society, or social life, is composed of levels, arguing that micro and macro phenomena, like small and large ones, are laid out in the same one plenum of linked practices and arrangements. |
| Tuesday Sept. 13, 2011 08:45-10:30 Thomas van Aquinostraat 8 6525GD Nijmegen Room: 8 K 16 Chair: Prof. Huib Ernste |
Questions and Answers session with Master Students
about the Alexander von Humboldt Lecture by Prof. Theodore (Ted) Schatzki |
| Tuesday Sept. 13, 2011 10:45-13:30 Thomas van Aquinostraat 8 6525GD Nijmegen Room: 8 K 16 Chair: Prof. Pieter Leroy Free entry |
Master Class with Prof.
Theodore (Ted) Schatzki about
“Martin Heidegger: Theorist of Space” Abstract: Explaining Heidegger's ideas on spatial phenomena simply and succinctly, this master class will be provocative and invaluable to anyone interested in space and spatial theory. Theodore Schatzki gives incisive, informative, and compelling analyses of Heidegger's overall philosophy and of his changing ideas about space, spatiality, the clearing, places, sites, and dwelling. This master class also charts the legacy of these ideas in philosophy, geography, architecture, and anthropology.  |
|
Dr. Michael Jonas about “The Social Site Approach
versus the Approach of Discourse/Practice Formations” Abstract: For many years praxeological approaches have been gaining increasing prominence in sociological discourse. A number of different approaches are viewed as the cornerstones of this sociological perspective, including Giddens’ structuration theory, Foucault’s concept of technologies of the self or Bourdieu’s outline of a theory of practice. On the basis of these and other approaches a multitude of theoretical and empirical studies have been created which focus on the specific concept of social practice (soziale Praktik). In the sociological theory debate, Andreas Reckwitz’s cultural-theoretical approach of discourse/practice formations and Theodore Schatzki’s site ontology approach have, in particular, significantly increased the explanatory power and the explanatory claims of a social theory based on this concept. The following contribution aims to compare the two approaches and to discuss the potential and limitations of their explanatory power and claims. |
| Prof. Stephan Günzel | BTK Academy of Design, Berlin, D |
| Wednesday Sept. 28, 2011 18:00-19:30 LuX Mariënburg 38-39 6511PS Nijmegen Room: 6 How to get there? Chair: Prof. Huib Ernste Free entry For reservation of free tickets: Ticket office LuX or Tel: 0900 5 89 46 36 |
Alexander von Humboldt Lecture: “Image – Space
– Action: Mediated Spatial Practices” Abstract: The lecture will focus on spatial practice in media, taking the term of action seriously. Therefore especially interactive media will be in the focus, namely video games. Against the background of theories of spatial production, spatial behaviour and spatial action, games will be analyzed in two respects: On the one hand as pictorial exemplifications of spatial concepts; and on the other hand as iterations and modifications of spatial structures by the users. Thus, games have to be conceived of as first hand experiences of alternative spaces as well as potentialities to affect the form of everyday perception rather than its content. Hence geography, philosophy and media theory should take games seriously, when considering the spatiality of current social practice. |
| Thursday Sept. 29, 2011 10:45-13:30 ‘Collegezalencomplex’ Mercatorpad 1 6525HS Nijmegen Room: CC2 Chair: Prof. Henk van Houtum Free entry |
Master Class with Prof.
Stephan Günzel about
“Merleau Ponty’s Phenomenology
of Spatial Practice” |
| Thursday Sept. 29, 2011 15:45-17:30 Thomas van Aquinostraat 8 6525GD Nijmegen Room: 8.00.12 Chair: Prof. Huib Ernste |
Questions and Answers session with Master Students
about the Alexander von Humboldt Lecture by Prof. Stephan Günzel |
| Prof. Maarten Coolen | Department of Philosophy, University of Amsterdam, NL |
| Friday Sept. 30, 2011 10:45-12:30 Thomas van Aquinostraat 3 6525GD Nijmegen Room: 3.01.25 Chair: n.n. Free entry |
Workshop with Prof. Maarten Coolen about “Pactices
of Space and Place” with commentaries by Prof. Stephan Günzel Also other researchers are stimulated and cordially invited to briefly present their current work (in progress) as a contribution to the general discussion in this workshop (if you are interested in presenting such a brief research statement please contact Prof. Huib Ernste, h.ernste@fm.ru.nl) |
| Prof. Jean Hillier | School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, RMIT University Melbourne, AU |
| Monday Nov. 07, 2011 18:00-19:30 LuX Mariënburg 38-39 6511PS Nijmegen Room: 6 How to get there? Chair: Prof. Huib Ernste Free entry For reservation of free tickets: Ticket office LuX or Tel: 0900 5 89 46 36 |
Alexander von Humboldt Lecture: “Strategic
Navigation across Multiple Plan(e)s: towards a Deleuzean-inspired
methodology for strategic spatial planning” Abstract: I regard strategic spatial planning as an adaptive practice concerned with what can be planned in the face of uncertainty. Inspired by Deleuze and Guattari, I present a multiplanar theorisation of strategic spatial planning as strategic navigation, involving both the broad charting out of a trajectory of the longer-term future and also for shorter-term, detailed plans and projects with collaboratively determined goals. I develop a methodology for translating the theory into strategic practice which incorporates a critical engagement with actual conditions and how they came to be (tracing), together with an attempt to unpack what are the conditions for change (mapping and diagramming). Opportunities and risks could be explored allowing the potentials of new trajectories to emerge. I conclude that since the future is inherently unpredictable, the role of strategic spatial planning is to recognise material and expressive relationalities to facilitate strategic navigation of future trajectories. |
| Tuesday Nov. 08, 2011 08:45-10:30 Spinoza Building Montessorilaan 3 6525HR Nijmegen Room: SP A 01.09 Chair: Prof. Huib Ernste |
Questions and Answers session with Master Students
about the Alexander von Humboldt Lecture by Prof. Jean Hillier |
| Tuesday Nov. 08, 2011 10:45-13:30 Spinoza Building Montessorilaan 3 6525HR Nijmegen Room: SP A 01.09 Chair: dr. Arnoud Lagendijk Free entry |
Master Class with Prof.
Jean Hillier about
“Deleuzian Spatial Practices” |
| Prof. Joris van Wezemael | Departement of Human Geography, University of Fribourg , CH |
| Wednesday Nov. 09, 2011 10:45-12:30 Thomas van Aquinostraat 3 6525GD Nijmegen Room: 3.01.25 Chair: Prof. Erwin van der Krabbe Free entry |
Workshop with Prof. Joris van Wezemael about
‘Re-conceptualising Spatial Planning Practices’, with commentaries by Prof.
Jean Hillier Also other researchers are stimulated and cordially invited to briefly present their current work (in progress) as a contribution to the general discussion in this workshop (if you are interested in presenting such a brief research statement please contact Prof. Huib Ernste, h.ernste@fm.ru.nl) |
| Prof. Sarah Whatmore | School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, UK |
| Monday Nov. 28, 2011 18:00-19:30 LuX Mariënburg 38-39 6511PS Nijmegen Room: 6 How to get there? Chair: Prof. Huib Ernste Free entry For reservation of free tickets: Ticket office LuX or Tel: 0900 5 89 46 36 |
Alexander von Humboldt Lecture: “Practicing
more-than-Human Geographies: Thinking with/through materials” Abstract: The momentum of so-called ‘post-humanist’ approaches in the humanities and social sciences is on the rise, turning attention to the unfamiliar social agency of ‘things’ from animals to mobile phones. This lecture examines the distinctive contributions of recent currents in geographical research that insist on and amplify the more-than-human composition of social practices, relations and landscapes. Work in this vein reinvigorates cultural geographers’ traditional interests in material culture through conversations with Science and Technology Studies and Political Theory. Focussing on the ways implications of such approaches for research practice, the lecture will be illustrated by examples of research on food networks, urban ecologies and environmental knowledge controversies. |
| Tuesday Nov. 29, 2011 08:45-10:30 Thomas van Aquinostraat 8 6525GD Nijmegen Room: 8.K.15 Chair: Prof. Huib Ernste |
Questions and Answers session with Master Students
about the Alexander von Humboldt Lecture by Prof. Sarah Whatmore |
| Tuesday Nov. 29, 2011 10:45-13:30 Thomas van Aquinostraat 8 6525GD Nijmegen Room: 8.K.15 Chair: Bas Hendrikx Free entry |
Master Class with Prof. Sarah Whatmore about
“The methodological implications of ‘doing’
more-than-human styles of research”, focusing on the example of environmental
knowledge controversies as a critical nexus between geographical practice
and Isabelle Stengers’ notion of ‘cosmopolitics’ + Bruno Latour’s notion of
‘dingpolitik’  |
| Wednesday Nov. 30, 2011 10:45-12:30 Thomas van Aquinostraat 3 6525GD Nijmegen Room: 3.01.25 Chair: Stefan Dormans Free entry |
Workshop with Prof. Sarah Whatmore Researchers are stimulated and cordially invited to briefly present their current work (in progress) as a contribution to the general discussion in this workshop (if you are interested in presenting such a brief research statement please contact Prof. Huib Ernste, h.ernste@fm.ru.nl) |