After the lively discussions in the previous colloquia, we look forward to continuing this journey together with you and Dr. Sandra Buchmüller, visiting scholar for feminist technology research at TU Dresden. In the series Reshape Reality – Questioning Claims of Neutrality for Inclusive TechnoFutures, we’ll read and discuss current works from the fields of feminist science and technology studies, critical design research and gender and queer studies. We’ll devote special attention to a selection of fundamental works that have shaped discussions and changed perspectives in the past.

Events in the Series Reshape Reality – Questioning Claims of Neutrality for Inclusive TechnoFutures

Upcoming Events

December 12, 2025, 2.50 p.m. – 4.20 p.m. Ana Valdivia, Data Ecofeminism in FAccT ’25: Proceedings of the 2025 ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability and Transparency

In this paper, Ana Valdivia proposes a critical rethinking of GenAI’s proliferation through an ecofeminist framing. Historically, this framinghas interrogated the role of science and technology in the context of gender and environmental justice. The paper therefore introduces seven data ecofeminist principles delineating a pathway for developing technological and just transition alternatives within the AI research context. Valdivia emphasizes a critical examination of this technology’s role, while taking into account the current socio-ecological challenges. The paper calls for an urgent reassessment of the GenAI innovation race. In particular Valdivia is strongly advocating for ecological and feminist technological projects that make the planet, people, and life a priority.

We recommend Charlotte Kerner’s “We are Volcanoes” as background reading. The book provides insights into the beginnings of the ecofeminist movement. It is portraying the writer Rachel Carson, the researcher Lynn Margulis, and the philosopher Donna Haraway.

As in the previous year, we want to do justice to the pre-Christmas spirit. We cordially invite all participants to bring cookies or other small treats. Make sure to join us afterwards for a visit to a Dresden Christmas market!

Location: Room 118, Merkelbau, Helmholtzstrasse 14, Campus TU Dresden or Online via Zoom

Please register to: pandu@tu-dresden.de. We will gladly provide you with the link to the digital room.

Previous Events

May 14, 2025, 11.10 a.m. – 12.40 p.m. Donna Haraway, ‘Modest_Witness@Second_Millennium. FemaleMan_Meets_OncoMouse Feminism and Technoscience’; Donna J. Haraway, Thyrza Goodeve, Routledge; 2. Edition (2018)

The detailed overview lecture on Haraway’s life and work given by the speaker Felix Grewe at the last colloquium left many questions open. We are therefore delighted to have him on board to continue our exciting discussion. All interested parties are cordially invited to attend, including those who were not present in March.

In order to find a good starting point for the discussion and to pick up where we left off, we will read Modest_Witness@Second_Millennium FemaleMan_Meets_OncoMouse Feminism and Technoscience; by Donna J. Haraway and Thyrza Goodeve together for this meeting, in particular the introduction and the first chapter. The book is available in the university library. We highly recommend reading ‘The Promises of Monsters: A Regenerative Politics for Inappropriate/d Others’ from the anthology ‘Cybersexualities: A Reader in Feminist Theory, Cyborgs and Cyberspace’.

March 3, 2025, 4.40-6.10 p.m.: Donna Haraway, ‘Cyborgs to Companion Species: Reconfiguring Kinship in Technoscience’ published in ‘The Haraway Reader’, New York, NY [et al:] Routledge, 2004

We are looking forward to an especially exciting input lecture by Felix Grewe. He is a research assistant at the Institute for Human Sciences – Philosophy in the research areas of Professor Ruth E. Hagengruber: Centre for the History of Women Philosophers and Scientists EcoTechGender. The working title of his dissertation is Donna Haraway: On the re-definition of boundaries of sex, gender and biomechanical species. During the event, he will give an insight into his research and discuss it with us.

The text for this week is Donna Haraway’s Cyborgs to Companion Species: Reconfiguring Kinship in Technoscience, available in the university library. For more in-depth study of the topic, we recommend Donna Haraway: Technoscience, New World Order and Trickster Stories for Living Worlds’ by Jutta Weber from the book Schlüsselwerke der Science & Technology Studies.

Registration

We see the colloquium Reshape Reality – Questioning Claims of Neutrality for Inclusive TechnoFutures as an open reading and discussion format in which everyone can participate in terms of time, place and content as they see fit. We expressly welcome suggestions for articles and authors. The events will be held in German until further notice. If you wish to discuss certain topics or texts in English, please contact us in person or by e-mail.

Please register, stating whether participation is analogue or digital, to: pandu@tu-dresden.de. We will gladly provide you with the link to the digital room.