Michaela Büsse
Michaela Büsse is a postdoctoral researcher at Technische Universität Dresden at the chair of Digital Cultures and Societal Change and Associated Investigator in the Material Form Function research group. Between 2023-25 she is also a fellow at Research Institute for Sustainability Helmholtz Centre Potsdam.
In her research she focuses on sociomaterial transformations in the context of speculative urbanism, climate change mitigation, and energy transition. Drawing on elemental anthropology and feminist science and technology studies, she investigates how design practices and technologies govern environments and define who and what is being rendered inhuman.
Michaela received her PhD from the University of Art and Design Linz. In the dissertation she analyses reclamation projects in Southeast Asia and the Netherlands and develops a performative reading of design based on sand’s granular physics. She is currently preparing two new research projects that investigate the role of anticipatory politics in 1) the material transformation of former mining and military sites in German Democratic Republic and 2) the development of energy hubs in the North Sea in the course of the European Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy.
Michaela has previously held positions as a Research Associate at Institute of Cultural History and Theory, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Experimental Design and Media Cultures, FHNW, and the Institute for Design Research, ZHdK as well as fellowships with TU Delft, NTU/Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore, Museum of Contemporary Art and Design Manila, and Strelka Institute for Media, Design and Architecture in Moscow.
Articles in Edited Volumes
Büsse, M. 2023. »›Critical Standpoints that are Careful‹: Anthropological Relocations for a Performative Study of Design.« In Material Trajectories. Designing With Care?, edited by Perraudin, L., Winkler, C., Mareis, C., Held, M. Lüneburg: meson press, 89-94.
https://doi.org/10.14619/2201
Others
Büsse, M., Winberg, A., Pinto, H. 2022. Material Legacies. DESIGN LAB #13. With contributions by Claudia Mareis, Claudia Banz, and others. The exhibition series »Desing Lab«, Berlin: Kunstgewerbemuseum.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/files/Material_Legacies_booklet.pdf
Exhibitions
Büsse, M. (curator), de Visscher, E. (curator), Banz, C., Dean, M., Dierichs, K., Eder, M., Eigen, L., Guiducci, L., Hehemeyer-Cürten, J., Jalkh, H., Kycia, A., Mareis, C., Nyakatura, J. A., Rasehorn, F., Rešetar, I., Ribault, P., Sauer, C., Sauer, I., Schneider, M., Stock, R., Shone, J., Wenig, C. Design Lab #13. Material Legacies. Exhibition. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Museum of Decorative Arts. Kunstgewerbemuseum. 3 November 2022 - 26 February 2023.
https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/kunstgewerbemuseum/exhibitions/detail/design-lab-13/
Highlighted by TAZ, 15.11.2022.
Events & Workshops
Mareis, C, Büsse, M., Gründel, A., Perraudin, L. Lecture Series Dis/Entangling Material Futures. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Cultural History and Theory at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Virtual. 25 April 2022 - 18 July 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/7704/dis-entangling-material-futures
Mareis, C., Büsse, M. Design and the History of Knowledge. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Virtual. 30 June 2021.
Mareis, C. with Büsse, M., Gruendel, A., Perraudin, L. Dis/Entangling Perspectives in Material Research. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Cultural History and Theory at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Virtual. 25 October 2021 - 14 February 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/de/activities/6386/dis-entangling-perspectives-in-material-research
Press Articles
Molitor, N. 2022. »Ausstellungsempfehlung für Berlin: Am Knotenpunkt des Materials. Das 13. Design Lab im Kunstgewerbemuseum geht den Geschichten diverser Bau- und Designmaterialien auf den Grund. Befragt werden Werke aus der Sammlung.« taz, 15 November 2022.
https://taz.de/Ausstellungsempfehlung-fuer-Berlin/!5892190/