Reinventing plastic in everyday life: a challenge for science and society lead by Magda Buchczyk, Junior Prof. of Social Anthropology (HU Berlin), and Sumati Bhatia, research group leader at the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry (FU Berlin).

How do plastics operate as part of our daily life, from consumer practice to waste? How do we make eco-friendly alternatives and use them as part of our everyday life? 

In this MA course, the students investigate consumption habits in dealing with plastic. They want to find out what more sustainable alternatives are available and how these can be implemented. Students conduct their own (ethnographic) research, based on debates surrounding eco-friendly polymers, ethnography, and material culture approaches. The research outputs will be presented in a multimedia presentation and an exhibition. 

The seminar will be held in English, so will be the readings.

Master students from all disciplines (e.g., Chemistry, European Ethnology, Biology, Sociology, Archeology, Economics, etc.) are greatly welcome. Anthropology or chemistry experience is not essential. 

Course language: English

Schedule: Wednesday, 10 am - 12 pm

Place: Room 408, IfEE, Institut für Europäische Ethnologie (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) or online

The first lecture will be held on April 20 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm via the zoom link below: https://hu-berlin.zoom.us/j/66787158731   

Contact: magdalena.buchczyk@hu-berlin.de  / sumati@zedat.fu-berlin.de  

Das Seminar ist Teil des X-Student-Research-Programms der Berliner Universitätsallianz (BUA). Alle Studierenden der BUA-Partnerhochschulen - Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin und Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin - können an Kursen des X-Student-Research- Programms teilnehmen. Für ihre Teilnahme erhalten die Studierenden Leistungspunkte. Weitere Informationen finden Sie hier: https://www.berlin-university-alliance.de/commitments/teaching-learning/sturop/research-groups/archiv/sose22/reinventing-plastic/index.html