November 2024
Exploring ECT and Freedom to Make Sense
Prof. Schoeller’s workshops at University of Virginia
In November 2024, Donata Schoeller introduced the Embodied Critical Thinking and Freedom to Make Sense approaches in several workshops attended by an interdisciplinary group of graduate students and faculty members from the University of Virginia, as well as one introductory lecture at the the University of Toronto. She was invited by Professor Dorothe Bach, the Associate Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Virginia, by Professor Michael Sheehey,Director of Research at the Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia, and Jeanne Watson, the former Associate Dean of Applied Psychology and Human Development at the University of Toronto.
„Embodied Critical Thinking and Understanding“ (ECTU)is an approach, research, and training initiative developed by a team of researchers at the University of Iceland. Over the years, it has evolved into a European Erasmus program and won an excellence grant for an international research project calles Freedom to Make Sense: Embodied, Experiential and Mindful research. The presentation will focus on some fundamental philosophical considerations underlying this approach.
ECTU acknowledges the complexity of lived and situated experience as the basis of human thinking, which always again needs processes of clarification and in-depth- understanding. This experiential characteristic of thinking calls for methods and practices that carefully open up a binding complexity, the intricacy of a point, of a crux, of a problem. Such understanding is not downloadable. Clarification and in-depth understanding often enough are the results of an unpredictable process. Acknowledging that human thinking always requires processes of clarification and realization harmonizes well with Kant’s three core questions of the Enlightenment: What can I know? What should I do? What may I hope? In a time of polarization, turmoil, and inflammable discourses, practices of embodied thinking and understanding strive to offer teachable and practicable methods to enhance listening skills and the capacity to handle complexity and vulnerability.
What participants say
Faculty members
„I deeply appreciated this workshop. It gave us permission to see “simple” things more completely and in ways that can guide understanding and shared reality. It gave us a process to think openly and listen carefully (with attention and care). It gave us time and space to be curious and creative. Thank you!“
„Today’s experience provided a long sought-for reminder for the things that matter in one’s interaction with the world, with one’s immediate surroundings and with oneself. It restored modes of listening that nowadays are almost extinct, and gave slowness and reflection a legitimate space within our daily experiences.“
“The process and experience today was very meaningful. It challenged me (in the most positive way) to apply it with my MBA students and be attentive to the individual pacing that the process requires. Thank you.”
„As someone that works with students this workshop was a great experience in listening without talking, and finding the root of felt self. Dropping the concept of my word and communicating what I was feeling with others with clarity was awesome. I felt more connected with the people I was talking to while also learning about myself.“
“What I found most productive (in an extremely thought-provoking workshop) was writing/thinking and the “background at my understanding of the concepts” I kind of can’t believe I haven’t yet done that with the key word of my book before! My concept was invention, and when I thought about it a flood of memories/ images made me realize how my personal relationship with this concept has really informed what I’m thinking about/ reacting to in my current research.
I would love to try this in my teaching because people are so rarely asked about their personal histories/experiences with concepts.They just go tot the academic information rather than the “felt-knowing”. The arguments, logic discourses. But felt-knowing can yield thinking that is so much richer and can deepen our understanding.Thank you! This was fantastic and so valuable to me.“
“Blocks and dead ideas arise in a culture of knowledge and thought that demands that every idea becomes a product. This is a tonic, a counterbalance, another way into and back to the reel of creativity.”
“This workshop and my conversation with my partner helped me see connections between concepts that didn’t seem related at first and made me realize (or remember) how playfully deep thought can be… what time given to process can make possible.”
“Hearing my thoughts reflected back to me was very moving. It was hard to listen without interfering. The cornerstone of this process appears to be the power of reflection, which I think translates to engineering well.
As an educator, I can use my alternate words to design lessons around the facets of this concept ( what I want to convey).”
„I appreciated being able to slow down and be in closer conversation with others. I also appreciated being able to share “unformed” thoughts in an academic environment. I would have loved to take a moment and feel into my body more. I was also inspired how I coils use this in my classroom- its; a little scary but useful! Thank you!“
„This was great! I leave a lot of workshops frustrated or disappointed because they don’t “give” me what I’m looking for. And while this workshop was not at all what I expected for something on critical thinking, it reminded me to slow down. It reminded me to be transparent with students. It reminded me to listen and give them space to listen to each other. And it taught me that not everything we do has to enact change. Conversations can inspire change, but change can be gradual, immediate or absent. And ultimately I think everything comes back to driving! Thanks for your time!“
Graduate students
“Embodiment in graduate research is critical. Empathy cannot coexist with guilt in design practice – architects and planners must cultivate a strong sense of self identity before going out to make change in the world.
Workshops like [this] are urgently relevant and invaluable spaces to slow down, intempt habits, and expand thinking. Please invite me to future workshops so I can continue to cultivate these skills! Thank you”
“It was a really rewarding experience. The aspects of self reflection and questioning the ideas and motivations behind concepts/research was really interesting. The openness of the space fostered thoughtful conversation and reflection.“
“Making your layers clear” really resonated as well. I saw how I could improve in how I articulate. The session made me aware of how to be a better listener and mindfully interact with logic and understanding. I would be interested in more sessions!“
“Yes! I was mentioning that the U.S. is a hassle and holding such events/space to just sit, think, understand, eat, is reviewed (culturally) unproductive. We’re all on a run, stressed, anxious, all the time because of it.
Thank you for the space, the food, the prompts, and maybe next time it can be together with a writing session (there goes my capitalistic impulse again) :,) “
“One main take-away from this event for me, as a physicist, is that even though we oftentimes feel overwhelmed with tasks to do or ideas to come up with in our pads, it’s important to think about the process itself of coming up with ideas and communicating them. Especially in physics, where these activities are strongly discouraged.“
„I believe this thought process stretches far beyond college campuses and higher education institutions I think the lack of listening and the concept that not every voice or thought should be considered valuable goes all the way up to our government and has seeped its way into our everyday society and is deeply embedded in our social norms and values ( even though we like to believe we are immune to implicit biases and are more “progressive” than ever before)“
“This workshop was really helpful in a conceptual way, but also in an affective, personal way. I not only see my concept differently, but I see my role in understanding this concept differently.”
Post-doctoral Fellowship
Freedom to Make Sense
University of Iceland – School of Humanities – Institute of Philosophy
The University of Iceland invites applications for a post-doctoral fellowship at the School of Humanities (Institute of Philosophy) in connection with the research project ‘Freedom to Make Sense – Embodied, Experiential Inquiry and Research’, funded by the Icelandic Research Fund (RANNÍS). The full-time position is fixed-term for 2 years
Project Description
The project Freedom to Make Sense: Embodied, Experiential Inquiry and Research (MakeSense), is a three-year long research project run collaboratively by the University of Iceland and the Iceland University of the Arts. The project, based on philosophy and the cognitive sciences, aims at connecting embodied-experiential and mindful methods of research. Through the program, researchers experiment
with methods of accessing lived experience as a source of thinking as a response to an environmental and social crisis that calls for transformative ways of thinking. The project also involves establishing a research and training center which aims at gathering leading scientists and scholars who enact an innovative leap from theories of embodied cognition into research practices enhancing an embodied experiential and mindful approach to complex research issues. The core part of the collaborating team has laid foundations for the project by running a pilot Erasmus+ training program (TECTU ww.trainingect.com) since the year of 2021.
The principal investigators of the project are Donata Schoeller (University of Iceland and Universität Koblenz), Björn Þorsteinsson (University of Iceland), Sigríður Þorgeirsdóttir (University of Iceland), Guðbjörg R. Jóhannesdóttir (Iceland University of the Arts) og Kristín Valsdóttir (Iceland University of the Arts). Collaborators from over 20 international partner universities and institutions also take part in the project.
Job description
The tasks of the post-doctoral fellow include participating in the training of partners, research, attending meetings and workshops, prepare research publications, present papers at scholarly conferences and meetings, and assist with the administration of the project and its events. The post-doctoral researcher will be expected to work with a research team consisting of the project’s PI’s, other collaborators and three project managers.
The post-doctoral fellow is expected to work at the project for the most part at the University of Iceland to facilitate the collaboration of the team. The University will assist with applications of visa permits if needed for non-EU/EEA applicants (EU and EEA citizens do not need a work visa).
The University of Iceland is committed to promoting equality and diversity in all fields and strives to be at the forefront in all areas of equality, employing an ambitious equality policy which encompasses both staff and students. The University of Iceland is a family-friendly university which, among other things, offers newly recruited employees assistance to bring their family to Iceland. In accordance with Icelandic laws, the post-doctoral fellow would become eligible for healthcare benefits, paid maternity or paternity leave, and other special leaves.
Qualification requirements
- A doctoral degree completed within 6 years from the beginning of the fellowship in a relevant field of the research project (extensions of eligibility window will be considered for career breaks relating to illnesses, maternity or paternity leaves and other related events).
- Excellent English skills (spoken and written).
- Knowledge of Icelandic is considered an advantage
- Research background relating to the research focus of the project (such as in phenomenology or philosophy of the body) is desirable.
How to apply
The application deadline is January 15th 2025 (at 11:59 GMT). Preferably, the position should be started shortly after the application process has been completed.
The application should include:
- An academic CV
- A statement of research intent (up to 500 words)
- A sample of academic writing (e.g., an article or chapter)
- Certificates of academic degrees
- Two or three letters of recommendation with contact information (please ask each referee to email their letter to esmari@hi.is)
For further information please contact
Sigríður Þorgeirsdóttir, professor of philosophy, sigrthor@hi.is,
or Eiríkur Smári Sigurðsson, Director of Research, School of Humanities, esmari@hi.is.
All applications will be answered and applicants will be informed about the appointment when a decision has been made. Applications may be valid for six months.
Salaries follow the standardised wage agreements between the Association of University Teachers (Félag háskólakennara, www.fh.hi.is) and the Ministry of Finances.
Appointments to positions at the University of Iceland are made in consideration of the Equal Rights Policy of the University of Iceland. The University of Iceland has a special Language Policy.
Specialized assistance and practical support is offered to all incoming international staff and their families on various issues related to moving to Iceland. More information can be found at the University of Iceland website, International Staff Service.
