Taking Sides for Another Future

The Netzwerk Naturwissen will be represented at the international conference DISSENT! Museums & Political Disagreement at the University of Manchester. The conference will take place from 25 to 26 March 2026 in Manchester (UK) and will focus on the role of museums in the context of ecological crisis and democratic fragility.

Under the title ‘Taking Sides for Another Future: Museum Practice between Ecological Crisis and Democratic Fragility,’ we present current developments in our network "Netzwerk Naturwissen" at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. The contribution examines how the network has evolved from a platform for knowledge exchange to a programmatically positioned format that understands ecological responsibility and democratic action as inextricably linked. The lecture highlights in particular the network's political reorientation in 2025, when financial cuts prompted a reformulation of its practice and self-image. The jointly developed mission statement understands ecological crises, social inequality and attacks on democratic structures as intertwined challenges.

You can find further information and the full program here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dissent-museums-political-disagreement-tickets-1981120262034