AesThiCo

The ERASMUS+ project AesThiCo researches different approaches and methods of integrating aesthetics and ecology within technological education. It is a transdisciplinary project, in which the h_da-team under the direction of Prof. Sabine Breitsameter is collaborating with research teams from the EuT+ consortium, developing a transformative framework for teachers and lecturers, in order to  train and equip students with essential skills and competencies for aesthetically as well as sustainable technological development. By incorporating aesthetics and ecology into technological education, the initiative strives to endow lecturers as well as students with not just technical competence, but also a profound comprehension of aesthetic, humanistic and ecological factors, by this fostering a new generation of technicians and engineers who are prepared to address cultural, ecological, cultural and concerns holistically.

The primary objective of the project is to frame and formulate an approach which could be termed «Aesthetics of Care». This is supposed to incorporate concrete caring as attention to details and consequences, as for example artists and designers care for what they conceptualize and implement. It also points to the aspects of caring for one another, for human societies, and the environment, with the aim to induce a mentality change towards construction, utilization, and design of technology. Through this approach, the project attempts to empower technology students to become driving forces for a humanistic change in tackling the intricate challenges faced by society and the environment.

To achieve its objectives, the project will develop an aesthetic-ecological-ethical framework and provide it as a modular toolkit for educators to utilize in various pedagogical settings.