About

MediaLab.UFRJ is an experimental and transdisciplinary laboratory housed in UFRJ’s School of Communication. Coordinated by Fernanda Bruno, its research projects focus on the crossings of technopolitics, subjectivity and visibility. The laboratory also explores digital methods for data analysis and visualization in the field of Humanities. By experimenting with different languages, methodologies and conceptual perspectives in the production and propagation of our research projects, we aim to make the laboratory permeable to urgent social and political issues.

Founded in 2012, the laboratory’s activities and researches were initially focused on the exploration of digital media methods for the production and dissemination of knowledge in the humanities. The Cartography of Controversies methodology, inspired by the core principles of actor-network theory, was the main approach explored in this early period. The cartographies made during this period are available on our website and on the Controversy Mapping Archive platform, an initiative of Science Po, Paris, which gathers maps produced by several partner universities. Since then, we have explored other cartographic methods, as well as different means of extracting, analyzing and visualizing data. The results are all documented on our website.

Since its creation, MediaLab UFRJ has remained a laboratory open to partnerships beyond academia and has collaborated with various artist collectives and activists, hosting events, mini-courses and workshops open to the public.

Current research at MediaLab UFRJ revolves around three axes: Technopolitics; Subjectivities; Visibilities.