News Archive

A literary evening in the Port of Science serves to present the results of student work from two seminars held by the Chair of Anglophone Cultural and Literary Studies in the summer semester 2025. Students in the seminar "The Empire Writes Back" focussed on the relationship between canonical English novels and their rewriting by authors from former British colonies. The question of the techniques and aims of this practice of "writing back" and the function of literature in the reappraisal of European colonial history are at the centre of their interest. Over the course of the semester, students in the "Affective Landscapes" seminar have devoted themselves to the question of the cultural transformation of material spaces and explored how different spaces are formed and experienced culturally. In the course of six excursions, urban and natural spaces were explored and the way in which we perceive, shape, and claim spaces was discussed.

Join us for a participatory workshop with Dr Christina Horvath exploring the entangled legacies of colonialism, plant transfers, and Western scientific thinking as they are embedded in the landscapes of Magdeburg. Taking place in the Gruson-Gewächshäuser and the adjacent Klosterbergegarten, this session invites participants to reflect critically on how our lives and environments have been shaped by 18th- and 19th-century colonial travels, botanical collecting, and imperial knowledge systems. We will use methods of Co-Creation to facilitate "multispecies placemaking," expanding the concept of community to include non-human species. The workshop will integrate theories of decoloniality, multispecies and socially engaged art to discuss co-creation and participation from a multispecies perspective.

Together, we will consider three key questions:

• How have we lost our connection to earlier cosmologies through colonialism?
• How can we find and support nature in the city – enhancing biodiversity and sustainability?
• How might rethinking erased spiritual and cultural relationships with nature help us imagine more just and sustainable futures?

In preparation for the workshop, we ask participants to visit the site beforehand and select one feature — a plant, building, or monument — that stands out. Consider any potential colonial or global connections it may have. Take a photo or make a drawing, conduct some preliminary research, and write a short text (ca. 100–150 words) describing what you found and why it matters. Please upload your work to our shared Padlet (link to be provided upon registration).

Workshop Structure:

• Meeting point: Entrance to Gruson-Gewächshäuser (Schönebecker Straße 129b, 39104 Magdeburg)
• 14:00–15:00: Collaborative creation of a decolonial walking guide using participants' material
• 15:00–16:00: Performative group walk: sharing and reciting texts on site

The workshop outcomes will contribute to the creation of a downloadable, self-guided tour of the area that offers new, decolonial ways of seeing and moving through Magdeburg’s green spaces.

This workshop is open to all and does not require prior knowledge of decolonial theory or botany — just curiosity and a willingness to reimagine the world around us. If you are interested in joining, please register until 20 June 2025 via mail to PD Dr Nora Pleßke ().

Dr Christina Horvath is a Reader in the Department of Politics, International Studies and Languages at the University of Bath. Between 2021 and 2023, she led the Botanical Encounters project, which critically engaged with plants and green spaces from socio-historical and cultural perspectives. The project explored how botanical knowledge has evolved over time and how it has been shaped by history, global exchanges, and the displacement of plants from their original contexts. It included a talk series, five urban walks, and five art workshops, culminating in a collective exhibition featuring works by ten artists. Christina also designed a decolonial walking map of St James’s Park, London, and - together with Dr Ben Van Praag and a group of students - co-created the walk Bath’s Uncomfortable Past, which uncovers some of the city’s entanglements with transatlantic slavery.

Dr Sally Flint and Professor Corinna Wagner, University of Exeter, will host a workshop on 14 May 2025 titled "Entanglements and Transformations: Creative Writing and Eco-Art" from 2pm to 4pm (full two hours!) at Magdeburg's Port of Science.  The workshop seeks to co-create new climate themed narratives that connect science, health, education, local/global experiences, observations, research, art, culture, facts and feelings to motivate action to restore and repair our planet. Be inspired to collage words, create images, write poems, stories, micro fiction, lyrics, rap, draw, cartoon, ... in this transdisciplinary workshop. There is no requirement to have done any creative writing before - or to share anything, unless you want to! Please bring pens, paper and your imagination; other art materials are provided. The workshop is free of charge and open to all interested parties but requires registration. A few spots are still open, those interested may please register with PD Dr Nora Pleßke ().

Workshop Plan

Part One: Building New Narratives

Part Two: Transforming Time, Image and Text

After the workshop writing and artwork can be submitted for weaving in the We Are the Possible programme’s anthology to be showcased in policy and public spaces at COP30 climate conference in Brazil (November 2025). (No one poem or story in the anthology will be attributed to one person, as the anthology is collaborative. Contributor’s and supporter’s names appear in an appendix.) Please direct email questions and submissions to: .

We Are the Possible is an international award-winning programme launched since COP26 that co-creates new narratives to imagine a liveable future for all. Working at the interface of science, health, education, culture and the arts, it has brought together millions of people around the world to reflect upon the plight of our planet and deliver a creative and inspiring response to catalyse climate action and solutions at COP Climate Change Conferences and beyond.
We Are the Possible creative outputs are at the heart of our pioneering approach, connecting policy makers, children, youth leaders, teachers and the public to forge a greener, healthier, and equitable Earth for all.

We Are the Possible COP30 anthology is funded by the Met Office UK and British Council and supported by the University of Exeter, UK and the Planetary Health Alliance. The creative writing and eco-art workshop in Magdeburg is sponsored by transSCAPE as part of the transPORT initiative.

As part of the BMBF programme line "T!Raum - TranferRäume für die Zukunft von Regionen", the BMBF initiative Transferhafen/transPORT invites applications for a position as Research Associate (m/f/d) Urban Cultural and Literary Studies in the workshop project  transSCAPE . The position is located at the Faculty of Humanities at the Department III, Anglophone Studies, Anglophone Cultural and Literary Studies and is limited until 28 February 2027 with 65% working hours and remuneration according to TV-L 13. The position is to be filled as soon as possible. The application deadline is 15 December 2024, applications will be accepted via the online portal. PD Dr. Nora Pleßke will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

The position of research associate (65% TV-L 13) includes the following areas of responsibility:

• academic services in research in the project transSCAPE in the field of Anglophone Cultural and Literary Studies
• research and publication activities in culture-led transformation, esp. on the topics of space, knowledge, and participation
• research-oriented support of the transfer projects during the conceptualisation and pilot phases, such as the active participation at conferences and the organisation of excursions or lecture series
• work on own academic qualification

Requirements profile:

• master's degree in English Studies and knowledge of methods
• research interest in urban cultural and literary studies, post-industrial transformation, heritage studies, cultural industries, knowledge cultures, participatory cultures, co-creation
• interest in knowledge transfer and scientific communication
• experience in/or explicit interest in interdisciplinary project work; IT user skills
• highly reliable, diligent, and structured work, commitment, self-initiative, ability to work in a team as well as scientific curiosity and readiness to learn
• excellent English language skills (C1 level)

"Cinematic Cities" continues the discussion that began in the 2024 summer semester in the lecture series "City. Culture-led Regeneration: Space - Knowledge - Participation" on cultur-led urban development. In the winter semester 2024/25, the focus will be on the parallel development of the city and film from the modern metropolis of the 1920s to the postmodern, urban utopia of the 2020s. Paradigmatic epochs and genres of cinematographic urban construction as well as themes and motifs of cinematic urban representation will be highlighted. The FILM & TALK format will frame the film screening with an academic guest lecture and an open discussion round led by FHW students.

Starting on 14 November 2024 with a talk by Simon Bracken on Patrick Keiller's London at the Denkfabrik in the Port of Science. BYO snacks and drinks for all events.

Questions about the event will be answered by the transSCAPE team ().