Closer to algae: Observing, touching, and making-with

Algae have contributed fundamentally to life on Earth, yet remain foreign to most of us. Closer to Algae invites participants to develop a more intimate relationship with algae through scientific knowledge, sensory experience, and "making-with," borrowing Donna Haraway's term.

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), driven by rising temperatures and anthropogenic pressures, have become more frequent in Berlin's waterways in recent years, threatening public health and local ecosystems. Based on current HAB research, the workshop addresses how algae are affected by ecological conditions that exceed their own agency. Participants are invited to engage with these sensitive organisms through four modes of encounter: facts, observation, touch, and prototyping. A short introduction will cover algae's evolutionary history, ecosystemic functions, the causes behind HABs, and product applications of algae. This will be followed by interactions with different algae species and their polymers. We will make small structures through mixing, knotting, or twisting, accompanied by a soundscape of audio recordings of the Spree captured above and below water. After each encounter, the group will contribute words and sensations to a collective vocabulary. What touches us about algae's histories and behaviours? What might algae want from us?

The workshop seeks to foster dialogue between scientific research, artistic practice, and public engagement, connecting participants to Berlin's broader network of researchers and citizen-led initiatives exploring these questions.