Multispecies Inc. Reimagining More-Than-Human Relationships Through Climate Fiction and...

Photo Credit - Isiah Winters

IAS Residential Fellows Professor Tim Parsons & Ms Jessica Charlesworth delivers a seminar on their research, fully titled "Multispecies Inc. Reimagining More-Than-Human Relationships Through Climate Fiction and Speculative Design" -

In the face of unprecedented environmental challenges, reimagining human-nature relationships has become imperative. Through an analysis of Multispecies Inc., a climate fiction research project by Parsons & Charlesworth, the seminar will demonstrate how creative practices can envision alternative futures where human and more-than-human entities coexist in harmony.

Situated at the intersection of art, design, and environmental activism, the project poses critical questions: How can speculative design approaches challenge anthropocentric hierarchies? and, What frameworks can facilitate meaningful multispecies engagement beyond exploitation?

Through a methodology combining narrative storytelling and design prototyping, Multispecies Inc. creates artifacts that "make-kin" with other species—including interactive experiences, sculptures, and illustrated narratives.

These works deliberately confront audiences with moral dilemmas about our contradictory desires to both connect with and control nature. Findings reveal how speculative fiction can serve as an effective vehicle for critical worldmaking, creating what Donna Haraway calls "playful propositions" that expand environmental discourse beyond technological solutionism.

Arrivals from 11:45 am for a 12:00 noon start. For those joining in-person, lunch will be served after the seminar from 1:00pm.

This event is hybrid format, please use the required booking button at the bottom of the page to choose either in-person or online attendance.
(Please note that in-person spaces are limited and booking is required, so we can manage numbers for catering and also the space in the seminar room)

By booking a place at this event, attendees agree to behave in a respectful manner such that everyone feels comfortable contributing as they wish. The IAS reserves the right to eject anyone who does not abide by this policy.

IAS seminars are typically recorded, minus any Q&A sessions at the end, again to encourage contributions. The recordings are then uploaded to our website on a Fellows bio page and/or Programme page, along with our IAS YouTube Channel. If you are not able to attend a seminar live, please do still register for the Teams webinar, as we will email everyone who registered to let them know once the recordings are made available.