Dr. Alexander Damianos, lecturer at Kent Law School, has been selected as young scientist for the STUDIOTOPIA Resident at Ars Electronica. STUDIOTOPIA is an initiative of S+T+ARTS, funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme. The program pairs emerging scientists with established artists to develop a unique, interdisciplinary exhibition at a leading cultural institution in Europe. Each pair is assigned a “challenge” which their exhibition is to address. Alexander has been paired with Territorial Agency to address the challenge of “Updating the Great Acceleration Charts.” These charts demonstrate an exponential increase across a range of socio-economic and natural phenomena, ranging from GDP, to deforestation, to the number of McDonald’s restaurants globally, all beginning in the mid-twentieth century. The resulting exhibition will feature in the Ars Electronica Festival 2026, in Linz, Austria. The exhibition presents an opportunity for Alexander to develop his ongoing research into the Anthropocene, developing a public-engagement initiative at an event visited by over 112,000 people each year.
Alexander teaches property law and environmental law modules to undergraduate and postgraduate students at Kent Law School. His research interests concern the relation between science and law. Alexander welcomes opportunities to supervise students interested in science & technology studies, environmental law, law & anthropology, and law & media studies. His forthcoming monograph What was the Anthropocene? presents the first-ever ethnographic study of the Anthropocene Working Group. His most recent article appears in the journal Social Studies of Science.