“Rethinking Anthropocentrism: New Technologies and More- than-Human Sensing"

Call for Participation: “Rethinking Anthropocentrism: New Technologies and More-

than-Human Sensing”

Leiden (NL), May 18th, 2026

Emerging sensing technologies can access a variety of data that are beyond the reach of human embodied perception. Consequently, such technologies trouble the anthropocentrism of human embodied perception as the model for experience per se. However, the mediation needed to make the sensed data accessible for humans still needs to be targeted at human perception, thus potentially reintroducing anthropocentrism. This workshop aims to discuss to what extent anthropocentrism consequently still characterizes the sensing in such more-than-human assemblages. In a collaborative and hands-on approach, it will connect embodied, theoretical, and technological perspectives in order to address this question.

Contributions from neuroscientist Marta Calbi, choreographer Stefania Ballone, and curator Bart Grob will provide impulses to discuss the epistemic, aesthetic, and performative dimensions of such more-than-human sensing. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with thermal imaging technology in an exercise guided by Stefania Ballone and will get access to historical sensing technologies from the archive of Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, provided by Bart Grob. Marta Calbi will offer a consideration of the implications of more-than human sensing for scientific purposes.

Addressed at PhD Candidates, early career researchers, as well as artists, the workshop aims to be a first step in building a research network to foster cross-disciplinary exchange around more-than-human sensing. Interested researchers are invited to send an application in the form of a brief cover letter (300 words) outlining how their work connects to the theme of the workshop, as well as a short biography (250 words), to Giulia Andreini ([email protected]), Giulio Galimberti ([email protected]) and Jonathan Kirn ([email protected]). Applications are welcome until March 31, 2026.

Spots are limited. A partial reimbursement for travel and accommodation costs can be provided.

The workshop is carried out in cooperation with Rijksmuseum Boerhaave and the Descartes Centre for the History and Philosophy of the Sciences and the Humanities. It is supported by the Institute for Cultural Inquiry of Utrecht University and made possible through the financial support of the Descartes Centre and the van Oostrom Grant for young humanities scholars at Utrecht University.