Planetary Technologies: Ontology and Agency

Doctoral Workshop with Prof. Dr. Vincent Blok (University of Rotterdam)

We are very pleased to announce the doctoral workshop “Planetary Technology: Ontology and Agency” with Vincent Blok, which will take place in Bonn, Germany, on the18th and 19th of June 2026.

Technology is increasingly becoming planetary, meaning that it no longer only mediates relations between people, but equally affects and alters relations between humans and their environment. Some technologies explicitly set out to do so, such as technologies grouped under the term ‘geoengineering’. At the same time, we also increasingly recognize the planetary nature of technologies that have no such intentions, such as combustion engines, fiber optic cables, and data centers. All of them alter and depend on our earthly habitat. The anthropogenic origin of the ecological crises, most prominently climate change, that we continue to experience hence forces us to confront how our socio-technical systems mediate our encounter with nature. 

In this workshop with Prof. Blok, we want to explore how planetary technologies mediate encounters with nature while keeping a special focus on conceptions of human agency. The idea that technological interventions and natural processes become increasingly enmeshed as technology becomes planetary breaks with familiar assumptions of an active humanity wielding its tools on passive nature. Indeed, it forces us to reflect on our own agency in a different light: As ecological crises challenge human control, we are forced to recognize the limits of human agency on this planet. At the same time, however, we cannot relinquish our agency entirely; else, we lose the ability to conceive of humanity as the agent of change and the bearer of responsibility for past and future planetary events. Grappling with these phenomena, Vincent Blok’s work suggests that an ontological approach, inspired by Heideggerian thought, can be re-imagined to leave room for human agency without losing sight of the overall impact of technology on human-nature relations. This workshop explores and critically interrogates this claim. 

Questions and topics of interest are, for example:

• Are planetary technologies ontologically different from other technologies? If so, how? By which criteria?

• How can we conceive of non-human agency in relation to planetary technologies? 

• How does a reframing of human agency affect human responsibility?

• How far-reaching are the implications of reconceptualizing agency? How far-reaching ought they be?

• Can new encounters with nature be developed by technological intervention? 

Next to presentations and discussions by and with Prof. Blok, the workshop affords up to 6 spots for presentations on any topic pertaining to the workshop theme and/or Prof. Blok’s work. Relevant research areas include, but are not limited to, ethical questions of geoengineering, climate ethics, environmental justice, AI ethics, and history of philosophy of technology. Doctoral candidates in the humanities working on the topic of planetary technologies, broadly conceived, from the perspective of the ethics of technology or environmental ethics are especially encouraged to apply. 

Postdoctoral researchers are likewise encouraged to register or apply for a presentation spot, but the preference will be accorded to PhD students. Furthermore, preference will be given to researchers and students of the University of Bonn.

To apply for a presentation slot, please submit an abstract of up to 500 words to [email protected] by April 24th, 2026. Abstracts should be fully anonymized so as to prevent any identification of the sender. In your email, please provide your name, e-mail address, and institutional affiliation. Applicants will be notified about their participation by the 8th of May, 2026. 

If you would like to know more or if you would like to attend without presenting, please contact the organizers via [email protected].

The workshop will take place in Bonn, Germany, (exact location TBA) and is generously funded by the Bonn Graduate Center.