The Qolony Association is starting the first stage of its newest project, IN:Fusion. This experimental hackathon combines scientists and theorists with artists and designers to develop innovative artistic ideas jointly.
Romanian artists can register until September 1st for projects within the scope of the IN:Fusion – Biophilia – Technophilia concept, in which they can present their ideas for reconciling technology that grows exponentially with the need to connect with nature.

Registration is done on the association’s website.

The artistic team of the project, formed by Mihaela Ghiță, cultural manager, science journalist; Floriama Cândea, artist and curator; Diane Pricop, cultural manager, art & science journalist; Dr. Ana Butcaru, scientific researcher, Research Center for the Study of Product Quality Agroalimentare and Dr. Anca Aldea, INFIM scientific researcher, will select ten artists from among those registered to participate in the hackathon that will take place between September 16 – 22, at the Oteteleșanu mansion located in the heritage of the National Research and Development Institute for the Physics of Materials on the Magurele platform.

The Qolony Association set out to promote transdisciplinary collaboration between art and scientific research by resorting to a hackathon – a context more used by entrepreneurs, engineers, and programmers – to develop a collaborative infrastructure between artists and scientists. This type of program has the potential to create new opportunities for learning and professional and personal development for the seemingly disparate disciplines it brings together.

IN: Fusion will allow artists to test and develop their project ideas together with researchers from partner research institutes (Institute of Space Sciences, National Research and Development Institute for Materials Physics, National Research and Development Institute for Physics of Plasma Lasers and Radiation, National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather, Research Center for the Study of the Quality of Agro-Food Products, GeoEcoMar – National Research and Development Institute for Geology and Marine Geoecology).
Also, by participating in the program, artists will have access to scientific information and facilities in the institutes, and researchers will be given the opportunity to interact with a different type of creativity, aiming to form less conventional working partnerships. In conclusion,

IN:Fusion brings the challenge of finding the balance between technology and nature, integrating technological advances in ways that are in harmony with the environment, searching for scientific models, and engaging seemingly disparate communities – artists and researchers to explore these scenarios together.

More details about IN: Fusion can be found on the association’s website and in the application rules.