Interference-free Foraging Mobility in Brussels on Electromagnetism, Psychogeophysics and Urban Beekeeping

Electromagnetic fields can have adverse effects on living organisms - honeybees are especially sensitive.

Although urban environments provide beneficial habitats for bee colonies, the electromagnetic field concentrations can disturb the bees’ orientation and communication capabilities. To assist city bees with this issue, participants can work on an interference free foraging map.

Detectors for both high and low electromagnetic frequencies can steer through gradients of signal intensity. Detailed contour maps can be constructed using DIY equipment during city walks, visualizing the situation across diverse city locales. Simple experiments provide insights into complex wave interactions; offering a view of "spectral ecologies" and their relation to visible architecture and habitats.

Participants get an intro to the social behavior of honeybees, and their communication, hive structures and materials used in beekeeping, as well as work on construction plans and new designs for DIY tools for electromagnetic field visualizations during expeditions to the city of Brussels.

Get inspired for a new series of Brussels postcards and an interference free foraging map for Brussels honeybees.

Aims of the workshop: understanding electromagnetic waves and gaining a feel for their complex interactions in the city and their impact on living systems. Exploring the possibility of making the "invisible" fields and their subtle changes over time and space both visible and audible. Exploration of electromagnetic fields in Brussels. Basic understanding of honeybees and working with beekeeping materials.

Martin Howse and Christina Stadlbauer
Friday, 10th of December, 15:00-19:00
Saturday, 11th of December, 10:00-19:00
Sunday, 12th of December, 10:00-19:00
max 12 participants

sign up with a paragraph on your intention at info@fo.am

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Splinter Fields is an initiative of Brussels based organizations active
within the fields of technological and media arts (Constant, FoAM, nadine
and OKNO) to foster collaborative, agile and flexible learning. The
programme of workshops, study-groups and field-tests is open to artists,
designers, technologists and other generalists curious to explore tools
and mindware for experiments in contemporary culture and daily life.