Transtechnology PhD Research seminars in this session will focus on the continuities and discontinuities between the material and the immaterial as they affect our understanding and use of technology. The intention is to develop a robust methodology to examine the cultural, economic and political determinants of past, present and future technologies that acknowledge the fullest network of determinants.

Just as our scientific understanding of the universe was shaped by the materialist world view of solids liquids and gasses until the immaterial dimension appeared to provide a fuller account of its properties, so the increasing acknowledgement of the determining impact of irrational and contradictory beliefs on the shape and uses of technology has open up alternative visions of what technological is and what its future may be. We are especially concerned with how creative thinking in the Humanities, and speculative practice in art and design, can extend the perception of the idea of technology.

The seminars will take place in Portland Square, room B323, from 14.00 to 16.30 on the following dates:

• October 24, 2007. Round Table
• November 21, 2007. Discussion
  Open and Closed systems
• January 23, 2008. Hannah Drayson
  Instrumentation
• February 20, 2008. Gianni Corino and Wolfgang Fiel
• April 9, 2008. Stephen Thompson
• May 7, 2008. Joasia Krysa