Unleashing creativity

This project is born from a simple but powerful idea: collaboration across disciplines and cultures can open doors to revolutionary discoveries and/or lead to possitive contributions to local communities and society as a whole. 

"The world is full of talented, brilliant, imaginative people who might have given us astonishing innovations and insights, but instead spent their lives grinding away to pay off debts that should never have existed in the first place."

David Graeber

Paraphrasing David Graeber, maybe there are thousands of "Einsteins" across the globe, never getting a chance. Actually, it's not even likely in today's world that a patent clerk, even one from a central country as Switzerland, would have the chance Einstein had back in the day. So, what are the odds of something of the kind happening in the Global South? Taking this into account, this project is about generating the conditions for such encounters to happen. 

Take for instance Benjamin Lee Whorf's claim, who almost a century ago suggested that the theory of relativity might be more accessible to native Hopi speakers than to Westerners. For most, it seemed far fetched at that time and maybe it was, but in the current state of affairs, we might never find out. Not because it can't be put to test, but because socioeconomic conditions and other factors prevent us from finding out. 

Many physicists have addressed such problems from different angles; pointing out issues such as inbreeding and stagnation in physics, frequently attending to a lack of transdisciplinary and transcultural collaboration, as well as metaphysical and spiritual exploration. I'm thinking of some of the OGs, like Niels Bohr, Erwin Schrödinger, Wolfgang Pauli and later Abdus Salam, David Bohm and David Peat, or, more recently Marcelo Gleiser, Adam Frank, Jonathan Katz, Lee Smolin, among others. 

A consideration in case you are finding this too pompous, or out of your area of expertise (I know the Einstein example might set the bar too high...). The examples I'm listing have to do with my ongoing anthropological investigation around "fundamental research", and you can take the case of physics as an illustration of a broader social phenomenon, so feel free to extrapolate and make the proper adjustments to other disciplines and social fields. This means that this project is not about finding a magic recipe or using social engineering in the hope of a new Einstein emerging at some point. It's about opening up a possibility space for play and fun to happen. As old Albert said: creativity is intellingence having fun. And fun is not often a priority in research agendas...

Some examples of physicists expanding their horizons:

David Bohm, known for his work in quantum mechanics and his theory of the "implicate order," believed that reality is far deeper than what we can observe. For a long time he collaborated with Jiddu Krishnamurti. Together with David Peat, author of Blackfoot Physics, Bohm explored how Indigenous worldviews, like those of the Blackfoot people, offer unique insights into the nature of time, space, and the interconnectedness of all things. In his book, Peat shows how Western science and Indigenous traditions can complement each other, opening pathways to a more holistic understanding of the universe.

Just as Whorf suggested that language shapes how we understand the world, Bohm and Peat teach us that cultures and disciplines can be windows into realities that would otherwise remain hidden. This project aims to create a space where scientists, philosophers, artists, and Indigenous knowledge keepers can come together to dialogue and collaborate, breaking down the barriers between the "objective" and the "subjective," the "material" and the "spiritual."

Why Does This Matter?

Today, science faces challenges that demand new ways of thinking. From the mysteries of quantum physics to the climate crisis, we need innovative approaches that integrate traditional knowledge, philosophical perspectives, and scientific advancements. Yet, academia and institutions often marginalize those who think outside the box.

This project seeks to change that. We want to foster an environment where outsiders, outliers, and outcasts can contribute without fear of rejection. Where radical ideas and unusual collaborations are not just accepted but celebrated. And why not have fun while doing so?

What Will We Do?

• Transdisciplinary Dialogues: We’ll host conversations between scientists, artists, philosophers, and Indigenous thinkers to explore topics like consciousness, energy, and interconnectedness.

• Collaborative Research: We’ll support projects that integrate scientific methods with traditional wisdom, such as the study of non-material phenomena or the application of Indigenous principles to sustainability.

• Accessible Outreach: We’ll create content (videos, podcasts, articles) to make these ideas accessible to everyone, showing how science and culture can work together.

How Can You Support Us?

Your support will allow us to:

• Organize events and workshops that bring together people from different disciplines and cultures.

• Produce educational content that inspires more people to think outside the box.

• Fund collaborative research that explores neglected perspectives and phenomena.

If you are curious about the shapes this will take, reach out and stay tuned!