The Anthropocene Laboratory came into existence on October 15, 2022. This new institute strives to develop an understanding of the new dynamics of the Anthropocene biosphere, help meet the increasing demand for solutions to global challenges, and contribute to a new generation of scientists engaging with these topics across scientific fields and geographical regions.
Since then, a scientific committee has been established, staff recruited, and the first meetings and public seminars hosted. The laboratory will be formally inaugurated on February 13, 2024, in the presence of HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.
During this initial stage, the scientific focus is on two key topics: “The Empirics of Hope” and “The Intertwined Biosphere”. We will engage with these two major themes over the coming years and anticipate that they will generate new knowledge and opportunities to collaborate extensively with colleagues around the world.
We strive to work with artists and change makers, and are proud to have collaborated with American author Rebecca Solnit and Norwegian visual artist Tone Bjordam for our public seminar “Hope in the Anthropcocene”, November 9, 2023. Swedish composer Jacob Mühlrad will contribute to our inauguration, and we are excited about a longer-term collaboration with Swedish artists Goldin + Senneby in cooperation with Accelerator, an art gallery at Stockholm University, with an exhibition tentatively scheduled for 2025.
This first year has focused on building a strong foundation, with international networks and local colleagues. A great deal of time has been devoted to recruiting colleagues and organizing shared office space, establishing work routines, developing this website, and scientific inquiry. A small number of publications are available from the Anthropocene Laboratory, including the result from a meeting between science and art in the Chilean Andes, December 2022, and a global assessment of Anthropocene traps.