1 Climate Stories
Project description
The project “Climate Stories” aims to empower socio-economic disadvantaged groups in the climate debate through participatory research. Socially disadvantaged populations can be more exposed to environmental pollution and can be more susceptible to its damaging health effects, while at the same time they usually have a smaller contribution to environmental pressure and less possibilities to protect themselves. To mitigate these inequalities, Climate Stories gives voice to socially disadvantaged groups through a participatory research approach and interdisciplinary partnership. 20 participants will be engaged in Brussels and Hasselt through a citizen science campaign and the photo voice method. The participants will collect and analyse data about the local air quality with sensors and will record their experiences and concerns through photographs. The collected “climate stories” from the participants represent their experiences, concerns and wishes and visions on a sustainable Brussels and Hasselt. A public exhibition will occur at the end of the project to disseminate the results to a wider audience and generate policy impact. Further, a methodological paper will be written for conducting and designing inclusive citizen social science projects.
Project members
Carina VEECKMAN, SMIT (VUB) [carina.veeckman@imec.be] • Jessica SCHOFFELEN, Centre of Expertise Inclusive Society (University College Leuven-Limburg) [jessica.schoffelen@ucll.be] • Sandy CLAES, LUCA School of Arts [sandy.claes@luca-arts.be]
2 The impact of finance on housing in Brussels
Project description
This project will gather concrete examples of the impact of finance capital on the Brussels built environment, seeking to create a series of digestible deliverables making that impact more understandable to a non-expert audience. That will make it easier for organisations active on affordable housing in Brussels to organise awareness-raising campaigns and to inform their audience and policymakers about the possible effects of financialisation.
We will focus in large part on the disparity between the large amounts of money being funneled into prestigious real estate projects through financial constructions on the one hand, and the continually rising housing prices and low investments in social housing on the other hand. We thus hope to create fertile ground for political and societal discussions - as well as further diverse research - on financialisation and its effects.
The project’s approach has been crafted based on discussions with Brussels-based organisations that work on affordable housing, financialisation and urban policy. This interaction will continue throughout the project and the final deliverables will respond to the needs and requirements voiced by these and similar organisations.
Empirically, the focus is on two real estate companies active in Brussels, Atenor and Immobel, as well as on the rise of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) that underpin much of the financialisation we will examine. We will study their evolution, their main projects and their interconnectedness to see how that financialisation has had an influence on the types of projects these actors engage in and the profits they make off these projects.
Project members
David BASSENS, Cosmopolis Centre for Urban Research (VUB) [david.bassens@vub.be] • Frank VANAERSCHOT, FairFin [frank.vanaerschot@fairfin.be, +32 487 67 16 27] • Jozef VANDERMEULEN, FairFin [jozef.vandermeulen@fairfin.be, +32 489 08 08 26]
3 Black Europe in Brussels
Project description
The online interdisciplinary conference "Black Europe in Brussels" consist of a range of inspiring activities taking place between 5-10 July 2021. The conference brings to the forefront the Afroeuropean communities and Brussels, the capital of Belgium and Europe. The conference engages with the dynamism emerging from the growing decolonisation movements and their calls for rethinking dominant modes of knowledge production and representation. This is particularly pertinent as Brussels is a cosmopolitan city wherein various transnational diasporic and Afroeuropean communities move, make space and resist. The conference is interdisciplinary and intersectoral in nature, which is reflected in the series of events focusing on various themes including Afroeuropean arts, Afroeuropean communities and the European Parliament, care and racial inequalities, Black histories and public space whereby the focus lies on the particularity of Matongé, Brussels, and the parallels that can be drawn with other European cities. ‘Black Europe in Brussels’ aims to be an academic, activist and intellectual space bridging the boundaries between institutions, practices and epistemologies. This is a conference for, by and with Afroeuropeans with the contributions of their allies and in dialogue with other marginalized communities. This event is part of the international and interdisciplinary Afroeuropeans Network and is organized in anticipation of the 8th Biennial Afroeuropeans Network Conference “Intersectional Challenges in Afroeuropean Communities”, which is postponed to 6-9 July 2022 due to COVID-19. For more information and the full program (in progress), we invite you to have a look at our website: https://www.afroeuropeans2021.com/en/.
Organising committee
Elisabeth BEKERS, Centre for Literary and Intermedial Crossings (CLIC) (VUB) [elisabeth.bekers@vub.be] • Susan DIERICKX, Research Centre on Gender, Diversity and Intersectionality (RHEA) (VUB) [susan.dierickx@vub.be] • Lena IMERAJ, Brussels Centre for Urban Studies (BCUS) & Cosmopolis Centre for Urban Research (VUB) [lena.imeraj@vub.be] • Annelies VERDOOLAEGE, Africa Platform (UGent) [annelies.verdoolaege@ugent.be] • Sarah DEMART, Observatoire du SIDA et des sexualitées (Université Saint Louis) [sarah.demart@usaintlouis.be] • Emma-Lee AMPONSAH, UGent & Black Speaks Back [emmalee.kasbergen@ugent.be] • Ojeaku NWABUZO, European Network Against Racism [ojeaku@enar-eu.org] • Karel ARNAUT, Interculturalism, Migration and Minorities Research Centre (KULeuven) [Karel.Arnaut@kuleuven.be] • Olivia GIESKES, Centre of African Studies (University of Edinburgh) [O.F.Gieskes@sms.ed.ac.uk] • Janine HAUTHAL, Centre for Literary and Intermedial Crossings (CLIC) (VUB) [Janine.Houthal@vub.be]
4 Future Master Critical Ethnic/Liberation Studies
Project description
This project offers a blueprint study to show why and how the Belgian intellectual and social landscape needs a ‘critical (inter-/transdisciplinary) Ethnic Studies Master. The programme is inspired by the Black Studies programmes in the US, but adapted to the European and Belgian landscape. A similar study programme is an urgent social reality to memorialize the realities of people of colour. The content and teachings of the future master programme will also feed into existing master programmes, with an approach that de-centers western knowledge production. By memorializing, taking stock and study the realities of people of colour, the project will serve as an intermediary between inhabitants of a city such as Brussels and the university. It will lead to more engaged and inter-/transdisciplinary urban research.
The final report will produce (1) a literature review on the histories of the creation of Black Studies programmes in the US and UK, and their consequences; (2) a comparison of existing Black or Ethnic studies programmes and (3) most importantly, a proposal or ‘blueprint’ on how such a programme could look like in Belgium or at VUB. Connected to (3) is (4) translation of the findings into an artistic or other form that brings the report to life. This can be in the development of an app... creation of short theatre readings...slam poetry...lecture series in the city and surrounding. This is yet to be concretized.
The ‘translation’ of the realities and contents of existing ‘Ethnic Studies Master’ elsewhere to the European, Belgian and VUB reality will be made by a wide consultation (via interviews) and discussion (via focus groups) with anti-racist activists, artists and academics of colour, as well as with relevant policy makers and the VUB authorities/services responsible for master accreditation processes.
Project members
Ilke ADAM, Brussels Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Migration & Minorities (BIRMM) & BSoG (VUB) [ilke.adam@vub.be] • Latifah ABDOU, Universitair Centrum voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking (UCOS), #WeDecoloniseVUB (VUB) • Tundé ADEFIOYE, independent researcher • Karen CELIS, SRP Evaluating Democratic Governance in Europe (EDGE) & Political Science Department (VUB) [karen.celis@vub.be] • Iman LECHKAR, Research Centre on Gender, Diversity and Intersectionality (RHEA) & Fatima Mernissi Chair (VUB) [iman.lechkar@vub.be]
5 Summer school: exploring the potential of in-between spaces/places for (re)shaping our urban futures
Project description
In order to prepare our cities for a long-term and future oriented post-pandemic recovery, new forms of knowledge and modes of knowledge co-creation are to be developed. This summer school aims to explore the potential of in-between spaces/places in this regard. It will offer a series of participatory workshops, fields trips and conferences, exploring the concept of in-between spaces/places from a variety of perspectives and the diversity of practices and dynamics that characterize such environments. We aim to encourage dialogue over boundaries of disciplines, sectors, age, life experiences and backgrounds, building on critical, participatory and engaged methods and will work towards a shared narrative, research-agenda and instrumentarium. Participants in the summer school will be supported to prepare future collaborations, building on the insights and experiences gained. The summer school will be organized from Monday September 13 till Friday September 17, 2021. A call for contributions and participation will be launched by the end of May 2021. For more information and registration, please contact us via info.cerl@vub.be or check the website www.univercity.be.
Project members
Brussels Research Open Lab: Minne Huysmans (VUB), Etienne Toffin (ULB), Julie Bertone (VUB), Gregoire Wallenborn (ULB), Linde Moriau (VUB) • Ebxl: Benjamin Wayens (ULB) • communa asbl: Antoine Dutrieu and Rebeca Fernandez Lopez • Multidisciplinair Instituut Lerarenopleiding: Joost Vaesen (VUB) • Centre d’écologie urbaine asbl: Simon De Muynck • Academy For Urban Action: Bram Dewolfs