art based research - research based art
the joined force of storytelling and science
In our possible world labs we bring together storytellers and academics. Scholars and scientists excel in thorough analysis, but much of their knowledge remains uncommunicated outside of their peer groups. On the other hand, storytellers and media professionals often have a very intuitive and emotional approach to the topics of their stories. In a world that becomes more complex by the day, we believe these two groups of people can highly benefit from each other - by investigating topics together, finding core elements for problems and stories and bringing them into a form that the intended audience understands.
To this end, we are developing methods for collaboration to spark conversations and new ideas for storytellers and scientists alike which are feasible in a set timeframe. Our method evolved from tools for world building - the creation of fictional worlds. The question "What would the world look like if...?" is the main application of these tools, and it is as central in philosophical thought experiments and scientific modeling as it is in media content creation. By creating a concrete world together, gaps of background, vocabulary and theoretical understanding can be bridged and new terrain can be discovered.