This workshop was part of the research project Being in Relation, which explores how artistic and technological practices can foster more inclusive, ethical, and sustainable relationships between human and non-human communities. This Technoscience and Ethics workshop brought together interdisciplinary scholars and artists to present case studies, share research, and discuss critical approaches to new and existing technologies.

Each day sparked rich discussions and wonderful networking, with conversations carrying on well beyond the sessions themselves. After the workshop, we went through the sticky-note boards from the final day and pulled together the themes and prompts that had emerged. These clustered around five ideas: uncertainty, co-creation, care, complicity and reciprocity, and techniques. Our aim was to hold onto the generative spirit of the workshop while turning it into something people can actually use in research, fieldwork, teaching, and artistic practice. The result is a living document, along with an upcoming card deck designed to help artists and researchers ask good questions around these themes at the start of a day or a new phase of work.

This is an ongoing effort. We will continue refining these techniques and applying them to our art practice and our research, and we plan to reconvene in a couple of years to share what we have learned and build on this work together.

Workshop Schedule: 

DAY 1 – April 20, 2026

9:30 – 10:00 – Informal introductions

10:00 – 10:45 – Private Opening Session

· Welcome and Introductions

· Discussion: Formulation of key questions and provocations

10:45 – 11:00 – Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:30 – Morning Presentations

· Andrew Trant

· Marcel O’Gorman

· Karen Houle

· Nassim Parvin

· Neda Atanasoski

· Roberta Buiani and Ilze Briede [Kavi]

· Jane Tingley

12:30 – 1:30 – Lunch (Provided)

1:30 – 2:45 – Afternoon Presentations

· Ilze Briede [Kavi]

· Hrysovalanti Maheras

· Cindy Poremba

· Rasa Smite & Raitis Smit

· David Rokeby

· Steve Daniels/Caroline Langill

2:45 – 3:00 – Coffee Break

3:00 – 3:30 – Discussion

3:30 – 4:00 – Closing session and planning for the next day

4:00 – 5:00 – Break

5:00 – 7:00 – Social Event

 

DAY 2 – April 21, 2026

9:30 – 10:45 – Gather ideas and keywords from Day 1 + Create potential thematic clusters and working groups

10:45 – 11:00 – Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:30 – Groups work on thematic clusters

12:30 – 1:30 – Lunch (Provided)

1:30 – 2:30 – Discussion

2:30 – 2:45 – Coffee Break

2:45 – 3:45 – Research plans following discussion (e.g., scholarly articles, lit reviews, conferences or creative plans)

3:45 – 4:00 – Coffee Break

4:00 – 4:30 conclusion, plans and logistics for next day

4:30 – 5:00 – Break

5:00 – 7:00 – Book Launch: Technocreep and small reception @ William Doo Auditorium, University of Toronto

 

DAY 3– April 22, 2026

10:00 – 11:00 – Groups work on thematic clusters

11:00 – 11:15 – Coffee Break

11:15 – 12:30 – Groups work on thematic clusters

12:30 – 1:30 – Lunch (Provided)

1:30 – 2:30 – Groups work on thematic clusters

2:30 – 2:45 – Coffee Break

2:45 – 4:00 – Groups work on thematic clusters

4:00 – 4:30 – Conclusion, plans and logistics for next day

4:30 – 6:00 – Break

6:00 – Dinner

 

DAY 4– April 23, 2026

10:00 – 12:00 – Wrap up discussion + presentation of recommendations / possible future plans

12:00 – 1:00 – Lunch (Provided) End of Workshop

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