Radical imagination in times of crisis toward an apocalyptic ethics lab for uncertain futures
Content
The Apocalyptic Ethics Lab: a three-day, in-person learning event for early career researchers on how to conduct research under conditions of epistemic uncertainty.
When: early October (05/10/2026-07/10/2026)
Where: day 1: Old beguinage (Hasselt, Belgium) | day 2 and 3: museumpark LABIOMISTA (Genk, Belgium)
A collaborative initiative from KU Leuven, Free University Brussels and University of Hasselt in collaboration with UNA Europa’s Future Unilab
From technological advancements such as AI, to pandemics, climate disasters, political conflict and socio-economic polarization, well-known approaches to research and innovation are pulled into a whirlwind of overproducing and uncertainty under current ‘apocalyptic’ conditions, creating disruptive futures already unfolding in the present with yet unforeseen consequences for present and future human and more-than-human generations. In this context, young scholars need to be trained in moving beyond standard, disciplinary related theoretical-methodological practice to grapple with and investigate the complexities of today’s societal challenges that can no longer be captured through linear causal logic.
Through workshops, collective discussions and multisensory and community-based explorations, participants researchers identity will be reshaped through an exposure to creative and embodied concepts, theories and methods developed at the cross road between different disciplines, inviting a response-able engagement of researchers in situations where research might not proceed as planned. We will encourage researchers to become attuned to one’s (human and more-than-human) relations at a specific time and place. In the Apocalyptic Ethics Lab, participants will learn to (day 1) become affected by body mapping uncertainty, speculating with the Einstein Telescope, and digesting “unusual” data, (day 2) stay with the trouble encountered by engaging with its future consequences, reflecting on conditions for response-able relationalities, walking/wondering with the more-than-human, and moving in the dark, (day 3) and co-create a collective, embodied, academic response to uncertainty to share with peers and the public.
How to apply for participation
We warmly invite you to apply and become part of an emergent community of early career researchers creatively responding to today’s fast-changing, volatile socio-ecological and geopolitical research contexts. There are 30 spots available. The lab welcomes applicants in their master’s, PhD or early postdoc careers. Please, send a short bio sketch (max. half a page) and a motivation letter (max. one and a half page) to elien.stouten@kuleuven.be, indicating why you would like to participate and what perspectives you can contribute to the lab, by Sunday, August 16, at 23h59 (CET). Diversity parameters such as gender, cultural, racial, able-bodied backgrounds and disciplinary variation will be taken into account during the selection process. Selected researchers will be informed by the 31st of August.
Important note: While participation to the Lab is free and includes catering for lunch and coffee breaks, the cost of personal accommodation and transport will not be covered by the organising scholars.
Competences
An important part of preparing for any further professional step is becoming (more) aware of the competences you have developed and/or want to develop. In the current workshop, the following competences from the UHasselt competency overview are actively dealt with:
- academic research competences
- research methods
- intellectual competences
- conceptual/synthetic thinking
- creativity
- personal effectiveness
- ethics and research integrity
- interpersonal competences
- (interdisciplinary) collaboration
The facilitating team of the Apocalyptic Ethics Lab initiative:
Prof. Dr. Karin Hannes (KU Leuven), Charlotte Parion (KU Leuven), Antje Jacobs (KU Leuven), Dr. Syeda Sidra Idrees (KU Leuven), Negar Mahmoudi (KU Leuven), Elien Stouten (KU Leuven), Prof. Dr. Liesbeth Huybrechts (UHasselt), Dr Violeta Tsenova (UHasselt), Louise Mazet (UHasselt), Sara Omid Shafiei (UHasselt), Prof. Dr. Tomás Veloz González (VUB), Prof. Dr. Wouter Achten (ULB), Matthew McCarthy (VUB), Emil Rousseau (VUB), Susana Rodríguez (VUB), Adriana Moreno Cely (VUB), Kimberley Vandenhole (VUB), Rosa Hofgärtner (VUB/ULB), Studio Koen Vanmechelen/LABIOMISTA, Prof. Dr. Mirka Koro (Arizona State University)
Practicalities
For whom?
- PhD students and postdocs
When and where?
- The workshop will take place on October 05-07, 2026 (exact hours TBA).
- Day 1: Old beguinage (Hasselt, Belgium) | day 2 and 3: museumpark LABIOMISTA (Genk, Belgium)
Registration?
- For more info see above