Figure 5
ConCiencias as a “created space” for decolonizing science and nurturing epistemic justice. The Zapatistas of southern Mexico have long been concerned that entanglements of science and capitalism are producing human and environmental crises, palpably felt by frontline and indigenous communities like theirs. They also believe, however, that science can be reimagined — “towards a system of knowledge production that is humanized, which has a transformative social purpose” (Meek, 2018). In that spirit, “ConCiencias” — a term that translates literally as “with science” but also means “awareness” — was born. At the second ConCiencias conference in 2017, the Zapatistas invited 50 scientists from Europe, North America, and Latin America to their autonomous territories for four days of critical dialogue on the history of science and explorations of its counter-hegemonic potential. From talks on Occam’s razor, genetics, and technology to apiculture, agroecology, and food sovereignty, ConCiencias exemplifies a “created space” within which social movements and scientists co-create the visions, practices, and strategies of achieving epistemic justice. (Left: Zapatista women taking notes at ConCiencias. Right: Scientists John Vandermeer and Ivette Perfecto (University of Michigan) discuss the transformative potential of agroecology; Photo credits: David Meek). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.405.f5

ConCiencias as a “created space” for decolonizing science and nurturing epistemic justice. The Zapatistas of southern Mexico have long been concerned that entanglements of science and capitalism are producing human and environmental crises, palpably felt by frontline and indigenous communities like theirs. They also believe, however, that science can be reimagined — “towards a system of knowledge production that is humanized, which has a transformative social purpose” (Meek, 2018). In that spirit, “ConCiencias” — a term that translates literally as “with science” but also means “awareness” — was born. At the second ConCiencias conference in 2017, the Zapatistas invited 50 scientists from Europe, North America, and Latin America to their autonomous territories for four days of critical dialogue on the history of science and explorations of its counter-hegemonic potential. From talks on Occam’s razor, genetics, and technology to apiculture, agroecology, and food sovereignty, ConCiencias exemplifies a “created space” within which social movements and scientists co-create the visions, practices, and strategies of achieving epistemic justice. (Left: Zapatista women taking notes at ConCiencias. Right: Scientists John Vandermeer and Ivette Perfecto (University of Michigan) discuss the transformative potential of agroecology; Photo credits: David Meek). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.405.f5

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