After Summer School: ThursdayAfter Summer School: Thursday

This year’s programme especially explores ways of learning that foster peace through empathy, curiosity, imagination, listening, resistance, and resilience. It aims to strengthen social cohesion and create a shared sense of security for all.

This programme continues to collectively build the idea for a city-based Curriculum for Change. It comprises a series of classes, talks, workshops, and encounters that showcase and explore a multi-facetted, plural, inclusive and post-disciplinary approach to the city.   

Empathy / curiosity
Conversation by Rosi Braidotti x Francien van Westrenen x Ania Molenda

We kick off the second edition of the After Summer School with a conversation moderated by a post-humanist philosopher Rosi Braidotti with Francien van Westrenen and Ania Molenda (Nieuwe Instituut). At Gemaal op Zuid they will discuss the transformative power of city-based knowledge in the context of politically uncertain times. Join us in imagining how local platforms for learning can tackle complex challenges of today by working with and through the city.

Thursday 18 September, 10.00–10.45 | Gemaal op Zuid | English

Resistance / resilience
Openair class by Afrikaanderwijk Coöperatie

In Rotterdam, Erasmus University's approach to "creating positive societal impact" often focuses on Rotterdam Zuid. During this openair class, Afrikaanderwijk Coöperatie invites you to reflect and report on the critical interventions of their “non-project” Re-position that brings together members of the Cooperative and researchers from the university. Creatively mirroring scientific processes of peer review, reliability and ethics measures, you will contest and reimagine power relationships between universities and local communities.

This class is part of Collective Learning for a Shared and Just City and concludes with a shared lunch.

Thursday 18 September, 11.00–12.30 | Het Grondstoffenstation | Dutch

Resistance / resilience
Interactive lecture by Rosi Braidotti

In this interactive lecture, philosopher Rosi Braidotti invites you to think about what it means to be human today. Caught between techno-optimism and fear for the planet, how do we deal with climate change, unfair access to new technologies, war, surveillance, and the rise of racism and authoritarian politics? By questioning anthropocentrism and exclusive humanism, Braidotti shows how affirmative ethics can help address the challenges of our time with care, courage, and responsibility. Join and bring your own affirmative example to imagine how the Philosophy of the Big Yes can shape alternative perspectives.

Thursday 18 September, 13.00–14.00 | Room 1, Nieuwe Instituut | English

Listening
Presentation & discussion by Miriam Rasch

How to listen? In this presentation and discussion, philosopher and writer Miriam Rasch will take you through her research on the ethics of listening. She uses the circular research model developed by the Willem de Kooning Academy as a guide, combining practice-based research with theory and actions, such as documentation and making public. This hands-on approach to a philosophical subject opens unexpected avenues of inquiry, offers practical applications and affects the research (and the researcher) in many ways.

Thursday 18 September, 14:00–15:00 | Room 1, Nieuwe Instituut | English

Imagination
Workshop by DRIFT x Municipality of Rotterdam

What is needed to build an equitable relationship between the municipality and (sustainability) initiatives in the city? During this interactive workshop, led by DRIFT (Dutch Research Institute for Transitions) and the Municipality of Rotterdam sustainability initiatives, designers, civil servants, researchers, and residents are invited to engage in dialogue and hands-on collaboration. You will explore what is needed to build lasting trust and reciprocity and discuss what policies are needed to offer emerging initiatives a long-term perspective. Using systems thinking and imagination, you will explore how initiatives can take root in a city that not only facilitates but actively provides a fertile ground for collaboration.

Thursday 18 September, 15.30–17.00 | Oostkop, Nieuwe Instituut | Dutch

Resistance / resilience
Presentation by Nieuwe Instituut x Journal Safar

Join Journal Safar and the Nieuwe Instituut’s Design Drafts team for an evening on protest, design, and publishing — marking the launch of Design Drafts #3 in the latest edition of Safar Journal. Together with the Beirut-based magazine, Design Drafts #3 invited five writers to explore the theme of protest within the realms of design, urban intervention, and visual culture. During this Design for Change event, the writers, editors, and designers come together for an evening of lectures and discussions on publishing as a form of protest and a way to share practices.

Thursday 18 September, 19.00–21.00 | Auditorium, Nieuwe Instituut | English

Stay for drinks and conversations at the bar at the Nieuwe Café after this event.

Listening
Podcast by Stine Jensen

In the chaotic times in which we live, philosophy often fulfils the role that religion used to play. Without religion, the wisdom of others can provide guidance on how to think and how to live. In the daily podcast Insight of the Day, philosopher, writer and podcaster Stine Jensen offers new wisdom, based on a particular insight into life. This special series, prepared for the After Summer School, features two new episodes with special guests.

Thursday 18 September, all day | Deck, Nieuwe Instituut | Dutch

The After Summer School is a Rotterdam-based programme of the New Academy where a wide variety of knowledge producers teach their methods. How can we change the city by looking, listening, writing, archiving, collaborating, activating, researching, designing, and walking differently?

If you have any questions regarding the programme or would like to request a free solidarity ticket for financial reasons, you can contact us through laura.lakam@nieuweinstituut.nl.