Facilitate
trust & teamwork
Six people are discussing plastic pollution.
They range widely in age, ethnicity, occupation, and experiences and are sharing bold ideas about mitigation strategies and source reduction in a safe, welcoming space.
Suddenly, a facilitator kindly halts the conversation. Participants are instructed to blindfold themselves and open the box next to them. Inside is a piece of soft clay. “Create something,” says the facilitator.
They are given one minute to mold a cup while a live jazz recording by Thelonious Monk is played. After the minute is over, blindfolds still on, the conversation is picked up and directed toward the edges of feasibility for global plastics clean-up strategies that make measurable environmental reductions within a 10-year timespan.
At another stopping point, participants brew and sip hot herbal tea while listening to a story about a monk and a hunter. The facilitator then asks participants to question consumer appeal for plastic and what could realistically replace it. The process repeats, alternating creative activities, discussion, meditative silence, cooking, eating, laughing, crying, and simply being.
At the close of the session, ideas are reviewed, research directions ranked, innovations proposed, and potential solutions identified. A collective team summary is shared with the broader community through a dedicated website, social media, and a newsletter. There are no individual gains, only collective progress. Participants are enlightened to the power of collaborative, equitable thought and the role of artistic expression in discovery and innovation.
“In this way, we transform science from the inside out to be more equitable, kind, creative, and organically productive. ”
grow
exploration & trust
Inspire
creativity & fresh perspectives
What is the UnInstitute?
Currently, we lack a dedicated space and tested model that shows how STEM fields can grow and adapt to address increasingly complex issues. I believe it is by embracing our basic humanity, valuing diverse ways of knowing, and truly working together toward a common goal.
Enter the UnInstitute.
The uninstitute is
A deconstruction of science into its basic components to be reimagined and approached from an equitable and diverse foundation of limitless thought, focused on emerging and persistent problems related to the environment and our planet.
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An effort to bring creativity and imagination into real world problem-solving by integrating alternative cognitive function into idea generation and development, beyond strictly objective thinking.
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A melding of the arts and sciences as a means to explore new possibilities, develop innovative methodologies, and identify paths to success for complex problems facing the planet and humanity.
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Retreats that remove individuals from their context to immerse them in a novel and inspiring environment that fosters creative expression, trust, enthusiasm, and collaboration.
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A gathering of diverse minds from infinite backgrounds with a common interest in a particular issue, problem, or roadblock, ranging from local to global in scope.
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A physical space that’s intentionally designed to inspire: an open concept space, furnished with resources that cultivate creative thought.
How does it work?
Create a safe, judgement-free space & bring in early to late career professionals with experience related to a particular environmental issue.
Host participants at retreats focused on solving a particular problem, crafting approaches, or developing methodologies related to a particular environmental issue. Establish ground rules for participation as trusting, collaborative, and open source.
Discuss the topic as a team with a facilitator, pausing
periodically for activities that inspire alternative & creative thought.
Guest artists curate these creative breaks, which include music, studio art, guided meditation, nature walks, bike rides, performance art, and more. Intermittent breaks are meant to activate different parts of the brain & encourage creative thought in a scientific context.
Process not product. The UnInstitute is focused on expanding & retuning how complex problems are approached & solved, without individual gain.
This is a “free idea” space. There is no conformity for idea development nor proprietary rights. The only goal is the transformation of participants to embrace humanity, creativity & trust as part of their scientific toolbox. Solutions are a happy byproduct.
Wanna participate?
We are in the beta testing stage and need participants! Our goal is to bring together a diverse set of individuals with unique perspectives on each topic. Propose a focal topic or theme! Participants are integrated into sessions based on their expertise, background, experience, and career stage. Priority is given to individuals with identities underrepresented in STEM. Get involved! Become a community member to receive our quarterly newsletter with participant epilogues, networking opportunities, and byproduct (solutions) summaries. Even better, join our board of directors and planning committee! If you represent a donor or funding source interested in supporting our mission, please email or fill out our form!
Photo: Lauren O. Lambert / Impact Media Lab
Inclusivity
The UnInstitute is dedicated to antiracist practices and providing a platform for the voices of individuals who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Queer+), early career parents, and all intersectionalities therein. In all retreats, early career and student participants as well as participants from underrepresented communities are prioritized for inclusion. For participants with young children, we can provide childcare to maintain equity of program access.
Donate
The UnInstitute is dedicated to equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We are in the beta testing phase of project development and looking for ways to grow and serve the community. Eventually, we may become fee based, but for now, the UnInstitute cannot exist without financial support from those who have the funds to do so. Please contact us using the form below if you would like to support the UnInstitute!
Participation and interest form - Fill me in!
