What’s the course about?
Science Matters: Scientific and Artistic Research is a cross-disciplinary course that brings together students from different levels (Bachelor, Master, PhD) into collaboration with international peers from the life sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts.
The course uses Artistic Research (ATR) as a bridging method across disciplines. ATR is a rapidly evolving field of inquiry that explores materials, situations, and forms in both experimental and practical ways.
Students will form a simulated research group and use ATR methods to:
- Create "knowledge maps" of their own sub-fields (e.g., genetics, epigenetics, European ethnography)
- Collaboratively develop speculative interdisciplinary maps of future knowledge
- Work through guided impulses, peer teaching, and shared exploration of fundamental assumptions—epistemic, axiological, and ontological
Mapping in this course functions as both a method of producing knowledge and a form of representing it. For those who wish to participate, the resulting maps may be included in a collective publication.
The course is open to all Circle U. students and includes multilingual exchanges in German, French, and English.
Who can apply?
- Final-year Bachelor students
- Master students
- PhD students
Languages
To participate, students must speak at least one of the following at B1 level or higher:
- English
- French
- German
The course is conducted in all three languages, allowing for trilingual collaboration. Find the trilingual webpage of the course at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Course format and schedule
- Delivery: Online only
- Total places available: 60
Course dates
- 8–10 September 2025
- 24–26 September 2025
Times each day: 10:00–12:00 and 13:00–15:00 (CET)
Credits and assessment
ECTS Credits (with exam):
- Bachelor: 6 ECTS
- Master: 5 ECTS
- PhD: 6 ECTS
Note: Students from universities outside Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin must submit a signed Learning Agreement.
Assessment options
- Pass/fail
- Graded
- No assessment (participation only)
Assessment type
- Term paper
Learning outcomes
Participants will:
- Gain interdisciplinary competences
- Expand their research repertoire
- Learn new methodological approaches
- Experience intercultural and multilingual collaboration
Instructors
Prof. Dr. Jonathan Weitzman
- Full Professor of Genetics and Epigenetics
- Centre for Epigenetics and Cell Fate, Université Paris Cité
- View profile (u-paris.fr)
Adnan Balcinovic
- Senior Artist, University of Applied Arts Vienna
Sarah Hager
- Doctoral Researcher, Global Studies Program, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Organisers
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Université Paris Cité
How to apply
Application deadline: 31 July 2025
Send an email to Sarah Hager (course lead): sarah.hager@student.hu-berlin.de
If the course is oversubscribed, selection will be based on a representative mix of levels (Bachelor, Master, PhD) and academic disciplines.
Admission decisions will be communicated by 10 August 2025.
Course page
Science Matters: Scientific and Artistic Research (hu-berlin.de)
