Our Courses Can Accelerate Innovation & Build Resilience
Community-Determined Adaptation Prototyping
If we understand culture as a unified, yet diverse, biophysical system, we can see that it embodies a worldview where nature and culture are interconnected and inseparable.
Nature and culture are made of mass and energy. Mass can be converted into energy (light), and energy can be converted into mass. Therefore, environmental justice isn’t only about energy, it is also about mass and matter too.
The fundamental atoms that comprise molecular structures in the body are identical to the atoms of nutrient cycles on Earth that generate new life. These principles can be extended to our material culture, and activating knowledge in local communities can unearth them.
AFPI boosts quality of life outcomes by helping students plan impactful projects with measurable community effects. Students develop cultural adaptation prototypes that enhance clarity of purpose and foster bio-cultural innovation. The course is designed for both those who have attended university and those who have not. It caters to a wide range of interests, including independent research, community development, artistic inquiry, literary-scientific speculation, and entrepreneurship.
A Feral Course Format
Are professionals the only professors of the light?
The course virtually operates as a cross between a literary society, community workshop, and interdisciplinary art house, providing a dynamic and collaborative environment. This format encourages critical discussion, peer feedback, and the integration of various domains of human knowledge.
Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Experiences
AFPI offers a broad range of experiences that extend beyond traditional literary, design, engineering and bio-cultural research, including:
- Artistic/Literary Inquiry: Students explore information network processes and linguistic formulations, using various bio-cultural media to create complex patterns for thriving in a world beyond oil and natural gas.
- Humanistic Design: The course emphasizes design thinking and human-centered approaches to solving real-world problems. Students learn to create solutions that are both innovative and empathetic.
- DIY Engineering: Embracing the maker culture, students create speculative specifications for hands-on projects that involve building and prototyping new bio-cultural technologies or systems, encouraging practical problem-solving skills.
- Experimental Approaches: Students are encouraged to experiment with new methods and ideas, pushing the boundaries of traditional disciplines to discover novel insights and applications.
Preparation for Independent Research and Action
- AFPI equips students with the skills to design and conduct interdisciplinary studies and projects that address political-economic-ecological issues. Students learn to:
- Formulate questions and project goals that have tangible and measurable impacts on communities in real life (IRL).
- Employ a variety of research methods and creative processes tailored to their specific interests.
- Analyze and synthesize information through interdisciplinary lenses, combining insights from art, science, engineering, and humanities.
Experimental Community Development
Students engage in experimental community development projects, where they:
- Create and test prototypes aimed at improving community resilience and cohesion through innovative biocultural interventions.
- Collaborate with local communities to identify needs, develop solutions, and implement pilot projects.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions and adjust strategies based on feedback and outcomes.
Beyond Academia
Community action extends beyond the confines of academic institutions. AFPI’s lessons can be applied to independent entrepreneurship and various other contexts. Students are encouraged to:
- Leverage their skills to start their own social enterprises, cultural initiatives, or innovative projects.
- Develop business plans and project proposals that incorporate community engagement, sustainability, and creative thinking.
- Use their projects as case studies or proof-of-concept for securing funding and support from private and public sectors.
- By combining interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary experiences with practical community development and entrepreneurial skills, AFPI fosters a holistic approach to research and action. This approach not only enhances students' academic and professional prospects but also empowers them to make meaningful contributions to society in a variety of contexts.
Sign up coming soon!
The creative juices are always overflowing at AFPI. Our course is an augmented reality experience, without the corporate headgear, that puts you on a journey of continuous becoming, within the circle of life. Critical mass and information overload is an everyday occasion. We believe accidents are natural and encourage relaxing the rules a bit for the unruly stochastic process of creation to occur. Stand by, and check back every now and then. We'll be splashing in a puddle of mud near you very soon.