Cambridge University, UK
June 23, 2025, , 09:45 - 14:30 BST
Workshop event: Experiments in Uncertainty and Un/knowing: Economics - Visual Arts Perspectives on Climate Change Mitigation
ICENS lab and LEAP lab (Living Experiments in Arts-Science Practice to Re-imagine Sustainability), a trans-dicisplinary initiative between University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University organised a workshop that aimed to foster dialogue between the realm of economics research and that of the arts, two worlds that often operate separately. It proposed to do so by unpacking, questioning, reimagining, and befriending the thorny concept of uncertainty, with a focus on our collective efforts to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
How do we show or convey what we do not know? How can the arts help economists more closely embrace uncertainty and learn to elegantly navigate landscapes of ambiguities and open-ended knowledge? These and other questions were addressed during the workshop in relation to the climate change challenge, under an experimental and creative format, meant to be provocative, playful, and artistic. The longer-term aim is to shape an arts-driven economics research and practice, and figure out ways in which the arts, through its critiquing and revealing nature, could aid the economics discipline, such that the latter becomes more disruptive, innovative, and less immune to fossilisation. The event was supported by CRASSH (Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities) at University of Cambridge. For more about the event and ideas behind it, see our summary on the Perspectives section of our website. .
October 1, 2024, 18:00 - 21:00 BST
London Interdisciplinary School (LIS)
London, UK
Salon event: Longevity and the power of long-term thinking
The London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) recently hosted an interdisciplinary gathering for discussion, under the format of a contemporary version of a Parisian salon, where, Șerban Scrieciu, the founder and director of ICENS lab was fortunate to be invited to. The event brought together a civil servant, an economist, a biologist, a political ecologist, an artist, a venture capitalist, a linguist, and a CEO to discuss issues related to longevity and the power of long-term thinking. There is much power in gathering a diverse mix of people to debate our most complex challenges, since it forces us to interrogate our own assumptions and become more open-minded. It also enables us to connect the dots across disciplines, industries and institutions.
A short essay inspired from the discussions at the LIS Salon event can be found on ICENS lab’s “Perspectives” page, whereas opinions circulated on the theme of longevity have been well reflected in a LIS blog written by one of the participants, Mark Griffiths.
Paviljoen, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
June 10, 2024, 14:00 - 18:00 CEST
(c) Govert van der Heijden
Symposium event: Frontiers in pluralist economics: Exploring the potential of alternative economic views for inclusive prosperity
The event was organised by The Erasmus Initiative “Dynamics of Inclusive Prosperity” at the Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands. ICENS lab helped organise the event and two of its team members, Professor Michael Roos and Dr Şerban Scrieciu presented alongside other guest speakers and participated in a panel debate.
The aim was to help raise awareness about the rich diversity in economic thought, particularly when applied to sustainability issues, such as climate change and inclusive prosperity. Guest speakers shared their perspectives, expertise, and research on how alternative schools of economic thought, such as complexity economics, feminist economics, and ecological economics can help address the complex polycrisis of the Anthropocene.
A summary of the event can be found on ICENS lab’s “Perspectives” page and the initial call is available here.