Dr. Justyna Górowska from SWPS University’s Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies in Kraków will take part in the second edition of the international Studiotopia Residency Program. This initiative fosters collaboration between emerging artists and leading scientists to address pressing environmental challenges and promote sustainable development. Górowska's residency will focus on the impact of digital data storage on the environment.
Studiotopia: Where art meets science
The second edition of Studiotopia brings together 11 leading European cultural and scientific organizations to organize artistic and research residencies. These residencies will explore the concept Symbiocene—a vision of humanity living in harmony with the Earth and its ecosystems, as coined by eco-philosopher Glenn Albrecht. Artists and scientists from diverse backgrounds will collaborate on projects that address pressing global issues, offering fresh perspectives and innovative cross-disciplinary approaches.
Rethinking digital sustainability
One of the growing concerns is the environmental footprint of our digital world. It refers to the significant energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with the production, storage, and transmission of digital data, as well as the electronic waste generated by obsolete devices.
Dr. Justyna Górowska's year-long residency, supported by CAA Laznia, one of the most significant cultural institutions in Poland, will focus on the environmental impact of data centers. She will partner with Dr. Thomas Heinis, a leading expert in large-scale data management systems from Imperial College London. Together they will explore the possibilities of storing data in DNA.
Meet Dr. Justyna Górowska
Justyna Górowska
Ph.D. / Assistant Professor
Justyna Górowska is a performance artist specializing in interdisciplinary projects that merge art, technology, and social activism. She utilizes AR and VR technologies in her work. Under the pseudonym WetMeWild, she has addressed environmental challenges. She curates the Blue Humanities Archive project, an online platform combining art and ecological education about water. Her work has been exhibited in Berlin, Jakarta, Warsaw, and New York. She teaches at the Faculty of Intermedia at the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków and the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies in Kraków at SWPS University.