Authors: Neher Aseem Parimoo, Flora Brégeon, Valentina Delconte
What did an intrepid geneticist, citizen of the world, and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Science, Humanities and Arts (JOSHA) experienced at the SciCultureD intensive course in the heart of the Mediterranean?
Neher Aseem Parimoo , with her multicultural and interdisciplinary background , focuses on building new connections and opportunities that can contribute towards bringing science closer to people in creative and meaningful ways. Additionally, she also designs curriculums for capacity building in science communication and public engagement. Neher was also one of the 26 enthusiastic learners at the last intensive course, who deep-dived in Malta’s sustainability quest for more inclusive, greener and just cities!
Discover her story and her acknowledgment on the importance of creativity and transdisciplinary collaborations for just societies! Now, it’s time to discover her testimonial!
-What was your favourite/surprising part of the course? And the most challenging one for you?
Neher: ‘Apart from an impressive blend of partner institutions such as the University of Malta, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway, city2science, Germany, and ScienceView, Greece, this ERASMUS+ project is rooted in the ethos of inclusivity, active citizenship and participatory research approaches.
The Valletta Design Cluster in Malta was offering a unique opportunity to engage with people with diverse perspectives, experiences and ideas. These interactions were curated and mediated by experts in science communication, design research, entrepreneurship and creative pedagogy.
Unique to each cohort, this course was centered around engaging communities to co-create just, inclusive and green cities in an urban context. Irrespective of the theme being unchartered territory, I was inspired to apply based on the curriculum because it integrated the eight creative pedagogies of dialogue, transdisciplinarity, collaborative and communal activities, balance and navigation, empowerment and agency, risk immersion and play, possibilities, ethics and trusteeship. It is precisely these skills that have tremendous potential to redefine education and outreach.
Right from the start, the workshops and talks were enlightening, immersive and challenging.
Our first day began with the ‘Discover’ stage where we were introduced to our purpose for the week. Through non-directive approaches, the tutors expertly guided us to understand and ponder over the value of places where diverse cultures and voices can find the space to sprout and collaborate. This included workshops on placemaking, urban street transformation, the public space and giving context to the cultural identity of Valletta.
The highlight for me was the incredibly candid and heartfelt talk by Dr. Charles Xuereb, an excellent historian from the University of Malta. He authored the book, ‘Decolonising the Maltese Mind: In Search of Identity’ and sparked a rich dialogue on the historical Maltese existence and how different cultures have shaped its identity.
Halfway into the week, we were ready to brainstorm and mould our ideas towards more tangible outcomes. This is where I found myself on shaky ground as I feared getting lost in the technicalities of bringing a project to life. Luckily, I was in a room full of people who brought great value with their diverse disciplines and willingness to share.
We wrapped up this week-long learning spree with tons of creativity, laughter and inspiration as we shared our hopes and visions for a community that can co-create just, inclusive and green cities. I was filled with awe at the originality of expression from all the participants, not to mention how well the creative pedagogies were integrated into our concluding acts.‘
-How do you think the transdisciplinary approach and the artistic tools will impact your work/activities?
Neher: ‘Needless to say, I didn‘t return to Freiburg as the same person who left for Malta. I came back with a whole new perspective on thinking, learning and creating. The multifaceted skill set brought with it a renewed motivation and confidence to put my thoughts into action not just at work but also in my daily life.
To begin with, my house is slowly turning into a forest to inculcate the change that I hope to inspire in the people around me. I often find myself turning to embodied dialogues to connect with the thoughts and emotions behind my inspirations. Acknowledging the impact of soundscapes has made me more attuned to my surroundings and certainly more appreciative of nature‘s language.
I also see these skills adding a unique dimension to my work at JOSHA. The multidisciplinary style of the workshop has changed my approach towards my daily tasks right from planning and implementing workflows, establishing networks, promoting equity of knowledge and creating strategies to institutionalise transdisciplinarity.‘
SciCultureD course was a testament to the revolutionary power of interdisciplinary collaboration. I would do it again in the heartbeat.
