Anyone attending OpenCon 2017 in Berlin?

jarancio · November 16, 2017, 4:43pm

Great @jcm80 ! I’m writing something already ^^ I’ll share it as soon as I finish.

@thomasmboa thanks for your kind words, it was so cool meeting you and @Alexis_Johnson again, I’m already missing you both!

Alexis_Johnson · November 16, 2017, 5:43pm

Unfortunatly, I did not join Juliette unconference because I was running my own session about:

Crossing Boundaries: Art, Technology and Identity

Also, at OpenCon I proposed 1 project, that is also related to Open Hardware:

github.com/sparcopen/doathon

BODIES OF KNOWLEDGE: creating a Feminist, open source technology and Art based research Makerspace

opened 03:22PM - 07 Nov 17 UTC

AJOpenCon17

2. Project 1. Europe 3. 2017

_Confused? New to Github? Visit the [GitHub help page on our site for more infor…mation](http://doathon.opencon2017.org/)!_ [//]: # "======================= Even if you know Github well, we suggest you read this. Anything between these lines you can leave or delete, as they won't display anyway when you post (you can check this via Preview changes). They're here to help you complete issues quickly and in a way that will help other participants. If you're posting a new project, or challenge. We suggest you fill out the Google Forms first. ============================" ## At a glance [//]: # "======================= Please paste the metadata you received after submitting your project or challenge in your Google Form exactly as we sent it to you. You can delete what's there now, it's just there ============================" * **Submission Name:** _Bodies of Knowledge_ * **Contact Lead:** _contact.alexis.johnson@googlemail.com_ * **External Site Link (optional - primarily for projects):** _http://www.smilesaidtheriver.com/alexisjohnson/bodies-of-knowledge/_ * **Region**: _#Europe_ * **Issue Area:** _#OpenAccess, #OpenEducation, #OpenResearch_ * **Issue Type:** _#Project_ * **Types of Support Needed:** _#Coding, #Community_GrassrootsOrganizing, #EventPlanning, #Fundraising, #Research_ ## Description Without hardware, there is no science. From Hooke’s microscope to the Hubble telescope, instruments are modern science’s platforms for producing knowledge (Liboiron, 2017). Design and development of technology continues to take place in the (cis) male-dominated environments of engineering companies and university. Producing technology is often associated with being masculine and handed over to female-identified makers to act upon and to assimilate technology (Wuschitz, 2017) . This is bias reflected in maker-communities (Holbert, 2016; Media, 2015; Moilanen, 2012), creating environments where underrepresented groups such as women,* trans* people or persons of colour do not feel welcome. Adding to the problem is the fact that many female-identified technologists devalue their own expertise and qualifications (Newman et al., 2016). They also tend to demure their skills in applications, which often also results in lower salaries for equal labour (National Science Board, 2016). It has often been mentioned in recent years how a Western-centric, post-colonial perspective fails to recognize innovation in engineering solutions that take place in developing countries. However, we have identified similar problems in Western-based hacker-spaces (FabLabs) (Wuschitz, 2017) . The social function of the commons was especially important for women, who, having less title to land and less social power, were more dependent on them for their subsistence, autonomy, and sociality (Silvia Federici, 2004). BODIES OF KNOWLEDGE* aim to demonstrate how underrepresented groups such as women* trans* and/or people of colour can take a much broader scope in the development chain, from design to manufacturing and the mainstream adoption of technologies. Open Source Technology and Art Based Research is at the root of our philosophy, it enables us to share and collaborate without restrictions. This project aims to create a feminist maker space from which to evolve as people and as community. There is an impediment in recognition of the contribution of women* and gender non binary to technology. We want to create and share infrastructure; Mutual self-help through sharing and learning. *BODIES OF KNOWLEDGE is a term coined by Njideka Stephanie Iroh and Marissa Lôbo in “Bodies of Knowledge – Multiplying Marginalised Subjectivities of Utopia through Art and Storytelling” ## What are we working on during the do-a-thon? What kinds of support do we need? Collaborators for administration, communication, preparing proposals, workshops/ residences organizers, operatives, event planners. Developing a financial strategy to open a physical space for feminist makers. Setting up a WISH LIST of equipment donations, resources and infrastructure needs. ## How can others contribute? Fundraising and Sponsors Call out Trans* people of color Sharing experience setting up, administrating and running a Lab. Event planing and community organizing #Coding, #Community_GrassrootsOrganizing, #EventPlanning, #Fundraising, #Research [//]: # "======================= You're ready to post!!! After posting your issue, the real work begins. Next, you might want to: Tweet a link to this issue with #opencon so others can join in Make another issue to involve people in your work - remember to use your metadata Come back from time to time and update the community on your project. You'll get an email update whenever someone interacts with your issue. ============================" _This post is part of the OpenCon 2017 Do-A-Thon. Not sure what's going on? [Head here](http://doathon.opencon2017.org/)._