CARAVANE Symposium:FINAL Program in Amsterdam – April 7, 8, 9 at KIT Institute and Zone2Source, by GIRES

Dr. Konstantinos D. Karatzas, Director of GIRES, specializes in 20th-century international political history, with a particular focus on African American history and political violence. He earned his BA in Russian and East European Studies from Democritus University of Thrace, his MA from Leiden University, and his PhD from the University of Zaragoza in collaboration with the University of Atlanta. He has collaborated with numerous universities across Europe, Latin America, and the U.S., including Leiden, Zaragoza, Ohio, Cambridge, Kentucky, Davidson, Florida, Morehouse, and Harvard. A strong advocate of oral history, he has conducted over 3,000 interviews related to African American experiences and survivors of various dictatorships in Argentina, Spain, and Greece. He is deeply committed to exploring the intersections of memory, identity, and historical justice, and continues to foster academic collaboration and knowledge sharing across disciplines and borders. His forthcoming book, Violence and Memory in the United States: The Case of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot, is set for publication by Routledge in 2025–26.

Pablo Cozano Pérez is a PhD candidate in Biological Diversity and Environment at the University of Málaga, where he also earned his degree in Environmental Sciences and a Master’s in Environmental Analysis and Management. He has participated in research focused on agroecology, urban development, and climate change through projects such as HORT-SOST II and the Climate Change Chair at the University of Málaga. Currently, he works as technical staff in the Department of Botany and Plant Physiology and is a member of the RNM 262 Research Group. Pablo has presented his work on arboriculture, urban vegetation, and sustainability at national and international conferences and is a contributing author to El Jardín del Recuerdo: Árboles para la eternidad.

Dr. Neha Basnet is a consultant and researcher with deep expertise in youth, labour, education, and gender issues in South Asia and beyond. She holds a PhD from the University of Groningen and has worked on numerous projects across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Neha has supported grant writing for organisations in Nepal, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Ghana, including proposals focused on women farmers, climate change, and gender-based violence. Her project experience includes evaluations for the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Better Learning Programme in Afghanistan, IOM’s CRESTinitiative in Vietnam and Malaysia, and a baseline study on girls’ education in East Africa. She brings extensive skills in gender analysis, youth engagement, visual methods, and mixed-method research.

Nima Yaghmaei is an epidemiologist at KIT Institute, where he works across multiple topics including nutrition, health system resilience, and monitoring and evaluation. Much of his efforts are focused on operational research to strengthen health information systems in international projects, with a strong focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings, such South Sudan and Afghanistan. He also plays a key role in expanding KIT’s expertise in disaster epidemiology and preparedness for climate-related and humanitarian emergencies.

Prior to joining KIT, Nima worked on a nutrition program in eastern Ethiopia and in a Belgian disaster epidemiology research centre. Concurrently, he is pursuing a PhD at UMC Utrecht, where his research delves into health information systems and data-driven decision-making in humanitarian crises. Overall, Nima’s passion extends beyond epidemiology— as he is driven by an interest in how history, geography, climate, and economics shape health outcomes.

Natascha Wahlberg Macías is co-founder and CEO of Social Climate, a non for profit cooperative based in Andalusia where she coordinates projects on social innovation, gender equality, climate action, local economy and responsible tourism. She has 15 years of experience developing and managing R&D&I projects, funds, programmes and tenders at local, regional, national and European levels on topics such as climate change and sustainability, waste management and valorisation, agri-food, water resource management and social entrepreneurship. She has a degree in Environmental Sciences, with master’s degrees in Water Resources and Environment, in Quality and Environmental Management and in Human Resources Management. She is a member of the board of directors of the Nature-Based Solutions Cluster of Malaga, and is an Ambassador for the European Climate Pact.

Alice Smits is the initiator and artistic director of Zone2Source-testing ground for art and ecology, a platform for art and ecology located in the Amstelpark, Amsterdam. International artists are invited to participate in exhibitions, talks, workshops, and excursions that foster new imaginaries and practices around nature-culture relationships. Taking place in the park’s pavilions and outdoor spaces, these programs explore ecological themes through artistic inquiry.

With Zone2Source, Smits focuses on organizing long-term artistic and transdisciplinary research programs in collaboration with educational and cultural partners, using the Amstelpark as a living lab for ecological exploration. Currently, Zone2Source is working with the City of Amsterdam to investigate the park as a testing ground for multispecies politics—shifting urban governance toward a city for billions of lives, not just one million humans. This work stems from a broader interest in the role of art in environmental transitions.Alice Smits holds a Master’s degree in Art History from the University of Amsterdam. Before founding Zone2Source in 2013, she curated exhibitions in both New York and Amsterdam as a freelance curator and co-founded the Amakula Kampala International Film Festival in Uganda, which she co-directed from 2004 to 2012. She is also a researcher in the field of art, science, and ecology and regularly contributes to art publications such as Metropolis M. Additionally, she is a guitarist in the experimental improvisation band Oorbeek. More information: www.zone2source.net

Dr. Maria Kottari  is a Principal Consultant at Technopolis Group (TG Netherlands) where she specialises among others in project management/coordination, research and business development in the green transition and innovation domains (e.g. EU Green Deal). She is an experienced energy transition, climate change, and sustainability expert with 14 years of working experience and a solid network in subjects related to the EU and international politics and governance, energy and climate policies, sustainability, innovation, and socio-economic challenges.

Throughout her career in the public sector (European Commission’s (EC) Joint Research Centre(JRC), academia (European University Institute, University of Amsterdam) and consultancy (collaboration among others with  UN’s Food & Agricultural organisation) she has been involved in various initiatives related to the policy and socio-economic aspects of the energy transition (including labour market reforms, circular economy principles) and climate change mitigation and adaptation, in particular the green economy (e.g. sustainable finance, decarbonisation processes), technological and citizen-driven innovation. She is also very active in gender equality topics in the same domains. She has a strong methodologic background in qualitative and quantitative research methods, such as interviews, surveys, case studies, policy analysis and strategic recommendations. She has also extensive experience as a trainer and facilitator of workshops (online and in person) with application of novel and traditional learning and development methods.

Metka Bahlen Okoli is a Slovenian educator, youth worker, theater pedagogue, producer, and actress with over two decades of experience in non-formal education, youth work, and cultural activities. She holds a degree in pedagogy and andragogy from the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Arts. Believing in the emancipatory power that is held within the treasuries of knowledge and experience of the people, she is committed to supporting vulnerable target groups who do not have a public voice or whose voice is not heard. Metka is a keen promoter of theater as a tool for social change, co-authored several tools on Theatre of the Oppressed methodology and contributed to numerous projects emphasizing storytelling and empowerment, encouraging expression through voice and theater methods to nurture solidarity and collaboration.

Andreja Potočnik, university graduate in Social Work, is an experienced youth worker with over a decade of work in both state institutions and NGOs. Her roles have spanned psycho-social support, community coordination, and project management focused on social inclusion and empowerment of vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, homeless, people with migrant background and youth. She has extensive experience in integration of cultural and performative practices into her work, using art to challenge existing systems, advocate for change, foster dialogue, and reduce stigma. She is passionate about addressing pressing social issues such as climate justice through community engagement, emphasizing dignity, autonomy, and social equity.

Anita Juka is a successful producer who started her own production company 4Film in 2003. In her 20 years career, she has produced over 30 films and 20 European co-productions of different genres, including feature fiction, creative feature documentaries, shorts and one mini TV series. To her professional background a large number of produced European social awareness media campaigns and film literacy campaigns can be added. She is an experienced film producer with several well acclaimed feature films that were part of the Cannes film festival official competition Un certain regard in 2023. She was a member of Board of European Film Academy and is quite aware of the sustainability issues in the filmmaking industry. She would like you to think about what is real and useful and what is just greenwashing practice in filmmaking practise. She is one of the mentors in the Caravane project. 

Martina Belić is a feminist and human rights activist for the last thirty years. With extensive experience in running grass root initiatives and EU funded projects, she has knowledge on community organizing and working with different groups. She was a founder of several important Croatia CSOs dealing with women’s human rights and protection against violence against women, as well as board member of the biggest Croatian environmental organization “Green Action”. At the moment, she is a partner project manager in Caravane, and she would like to share the project experiences of participative decision making in the group of young filmmaking professionals dealing with climate justice and climate sustainability. The group is producing the 52 minutes long documentary on climate justice. 

Natia Mikava is a cultural entrepreneur, producer, and international consultant with a background in music, film, and event production. A graduate of Oxford MBA (2005), she currently serves as CEO of Reality Star Production Centre and consultant for international film funding. Natia is the founder of major cultural initiatives including the International Talent Contest “Black Sea Stars” and Arte Marbella Inter Art Batumi. She has led numerous diaspora and community events across Europe. In 2022, she launched Georgian Film Abroad and contributed to award-winning films such as Bullet. Natia has been active in Marbella’s film and cultural scene, organizing Ukrainian Cinema Day and other global initiatives.

Jan van Boeckel is Senior Research Associate at the Research Centre Art & Society of the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, The Netherlands. Before, from 2020 until the beginning of 2025, he was Professor Art & Sustainability there, based at Art Academy Minerva.

Jan started his career as a cultural anthropologist. With the passing of time, he increasingly focused his attention on both his own developing artistic practice and on the teaching of art – two orientations that eventually converged into the quality of artist-educator. Jan conducted several research projects on the edge of art and sustainability. Specializing himself in the new field of arts-based environmental education, he received his degree as Doctor of Arts in arts education at Aalto University, Helsinki, in 2013. In the past two decades he has worked in several Northern countries – among which Iceland, Sweden, Estonia, and Finland. Now, at Hanze UAS in Groningen, Jan’s primary research interest is in how art can help us face the great challenges of our time, of which the ecological crisis arguably is the most pressing. Jan believes that it is of critical importance that our view on what sustainability entails becomes more encompassing, through including its cultural, its inner, and ultimately also its existential dimensions. In this, he finds inspiration in the “new trinity for our time” that Satish Kumar introduced: a space where soil, soul, and society can meet and reinforce each other.

More information: http://janvanboeckel.com and https://www.hanze.nl/nl/over-hanze/organisatie/medewerkers/lectoren/jan-van-boeckel

Genomic Gastronomy Garden artist talk by Zack Denfeld.

The CENTER FOR GENOMIC GASTRONOMY is an artist-led think tank launched in 2010 by Cathrine Kramer and Zack Denfeld that examines the biotechnologies and biodiversity of human food systems. There mission is to map food controversies,  to prototype alternative culinary futures and to imagine a more just, biodiverse & beautiful food system. The Center presents its research on organisms and environments manipulated through human food cultures through public lectures, research publications, meals and exhibitions. They collaborate with scientists, chefs, hackers and farmers. 

Since spring 2024 Genomic Gastronomy runs the Genomic Gastronomy Garden in the Amstelpark. Situated in the former seal enclosure in the Amstelpark, they use the garden as a site for working with others to test, interpret and contest
existing agro-cultural practices. In their edible plant garden, Genomic Gastronomy studies the technologies and ecologies of human food systems while tasting and debating the history and future of food. The plants featured in the garden stretch the imagination towards outer space & deep time, while grounding visitors in the here and now through a series of public activities that include community plantings, seed saving workshops, harvest parties, collaborative tastings and interpretive tours. The Genomic Gastronomy Garden wants to connect (inter)planetary imaginaries with terrestrial environmental activities and action.

Theun Karelse talk on Otterdam on the Amstelparks pond.

Theun Karelse growing up he was interested in drawing as a way of learning about the world in a close parallel to natural sciences. He subsequently studied fine-arts at the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam before joining FoAM, a distributed group of transdisciplinary laboratories operating at the interstices of art, science, nature and everyday life. Hisinterests and experimental practice explore edges between art, environment and technology. Taking the last 10.000 years as a frame of reference.
he practices and supports ecosystem and landscape regeneration in Europe, India and Afrika. His outdoor studio consists of several gardens that serve as testing grounds for urban biodiversity, climate adaptation and ancient knowledge systems. He is an active member of the Embassy of the Earth, part of the Future of the Delta team at the Embassy of the Northsea and Speaker for the Living at CCU the world’s fifth zoöp.

Otterdam
As an icon of wetlands returning to Amsterdam after 50 years of absence, the otter is calling to us: to reimagine our relationships to water, waterrich landscapes and their vast biodiversity and kinship-networks. Gardeners, landscape architects, and urban planners of Amsterdam may have started to think of bees, butterflies and birds when they design and manage our urban green spaces, but the return of the otter feels like a game-changer! Otterdam is a floating garden with common and rare indigenous water and swamp plants, which is cyclical; its structure biodegrades over 1 or 2 years, but more important than the structure is the practice: this project explores the gap between Dutch watermanagement and our horticultural practice (gardens and parks); unlike the Aztec chinampas or indonesian chrimp gardens, the Dutch have never really developed a culture of watergardening. Some initiatives are starting in seaweed faming, but our freshwater ecosystems are relatively unexplored horticulturally. Project aims: exploring animal wisdom of the otter as guide to gardening and ecological practices, creating moments in our culture for celebrating our connections to other forms of life.

Jonmar van Vlijmen in the Shadow Garden on Future Gardening.

Artist collective the Onkruidenier was founded in 2013 and consists of Jonmar van Vlijmen, Rosanne van Wijk and Ronald Boer. The collective investigates historial, cultural and potential transformations of nature and its potential to evolve humans. They do fieldwork – often in conjunction with audiences – collecting plans, the stories and histories associated with them. As ecosystem futurists, they speculate on aquatic culture to arrive at new interpretations of the relationship between humans and (urban) nature, both above and below sea level. An important role is played here by questioning systems that are usually taken for granted. In the development of their work, interactions with the public and eperts such as farmers, residents and scientists create new stories.

The Shadow Garden – Future Gardening
The Shadow Garden in the walled Belgian Cloister garden in the Amtelpark was put in the care of the Onkruidenier and Zone2Source as an ongoing project by the municipality in the spring of 2022. Here, the Onkruidenier conducts research and artistic experiments using this walled garden as an experimental garden. Working on a speculative ecosystem as artwork, and imagining more relational systems of classification, they explore how alternative nature-culture stories can lead to different kind of practices of care.

 At the Shadow Garden, the Onkruidenier has begun a search for the future of gardening in a changing climate that is getting drier and hotter. In the near future, we will increasingly experience relatively wet winters and dry hot summers due to the Mediterraneanization of our cities. What does a xerophilic (heat-loving) biotope for the city look like? How do we develop a regenerative system for a thriving heat-resistant urban nature? Currently, our climate zone is shifting 13 meters northeastward every day. What will our urban biotope look like in the future when we live in the current Paris climate zone 50 years from now? The urban area is dominated by asphalt, pavement and concrete, on a foundation of raised sand. The city is a large, walled heat island. What heat-loving plant communities do we embrace in the future? And how do we as humans learn to work with them to keep the city livable? And what is gardening as an intervention when we reconsider our own role in the ecosystem?