More-than-human caring archetypes

Let’s start with a playful exercise! We invite you to draw from the wisdom of the more-than-human world, and think of the caring characteristics you put into place (or wish to) when you engage your research participants, your students, or your colleagues.

How?

1) Get inspired by the more-than-human archetypes featured below to think about your own research or practice, or any other that resonates with you (beyond the ones in the pictures);

2) Answer the following question on a piece of paper (Unit 5 template available to download in the files tab):

Which archetype, or characteristics of several archetypes, resonate(s) with your care-full practice (as researcher, teacher, supervisor, collaborator etc.)?

NB the archetypes may inspire you to think of your role, but also of the role and characteristics of who you wish to engage); also, we encourage you to share other archetypes beyond those proposed here!

3) Share your response on the Discussion Board in the comments tab at the top of this lesson page.

This is what some of the MOOC’s organisers have said about their own archetypes:

>>> Angela: “I am definitely a beaver! I prepare things care-fully in the sense that I am a systematic, long-term designer – whether it is a lecture, a course, a workshop for my research fieldwork, or a presentation for an event! Although I don’t have the power to change ‘ecosystems’ like beavers do, in my care-full practice I always think of the impact it might have on the audience, and if and how it can be a way to develop participants’ capacities or confidence, so that the tools, approaches and mindsets shared and discussed can be embraced and taken further by them on their own in the future’

>>> Alex: "I am thinking that I would be a wren, or more specifically a Carolina wren. I am definitely a bit of a perfectionist (although maybe not so much in terms of how organised and tidy my home is!), but at the same time can be relatively versatile in the way in which I work, drawing on and weaving together a wide range of materials and resources." https://blog.nature.org/science/2021/02/10/carolina-wrens-will-nest-in-just-about-anything/

>>> Lindy: "I'm a rat. I am naturally sociable and flourish in community. I am creative and adaptable, but most importantly I'm driven (in my life and my work) by compassion and empathy. As a communicator, I must believe the cause has value." https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/rats-show-empathy-too

This exercise was designed by Anke de Vrieze and Angela Moriggi from the collective Re.imaginary.