SOAM

🌐 MEET OUR RESIDENTS: CLARA GROMACHES Clara G is part of SOAM’s Network Sovereignties Residency Program running from May until October 2024. Clara (she/her) is an architect and housing activist working in the intersection of regenerative #architecture, collective+ co-operative #housing and #technology projects, to leverage the power self-organization to replicate rural housing #commons. She works as a consultant through her practice ACT3, is part of the Operations team at dOrg —a #DAO organized as a workers co-operative that provides web3 development services— and is a visitor professor at University of Girona (Spain). At SOAM, Clara will work on Housing as Networked Commons. Her project will explore current governance and ownership models of interconnected intentional housing communities —co-ops entities wrapped in foundations— to manage land, housing properties, tools and knowledge as commons. Clara’s case study will focus on key #governance and finance principles and tools could help replicate these sovereign network use cases, with the ultimate vision of advancing into having more regenerative, fair and sovereign societies. ℹ️ More info on: www.soam.earth #SOAM #Residency #Network #Futures #Web3 #Blockchain #Transformation

🌐 MEET OUR RESIDENTS: PROF. DR. ANDREA LEITER & VADIM SMAKTHIN Andrea Leiter and Vadim Smakhtin are part of SOAM’s Network Sovereignties Residency Program running from May until October 2024. Andrea (she/her) is the co-founder and chief strategist at the Dutch non-profit organization Sovereign Nature Initiative, which explores the intersection of #ecology, #technology, and #economics. Additionally, she serves as an Assistant Professor at Universiteit van Amsterdam, focusing on technology-enabled #governance. Her research addresses global inequality and transnational lawmaking through private actors in the digital economy. Andrea’s current project, funded by the Dutch Research Council, is titled ‘(Re)coding Value(s) in the Digital Economy’. Vadim (he/him) is the Head of Product at Sovereign Nature Initiative, focusing on the confluence of art, ecology, and #web3 technologies. He is also pursuing a PhD in Digital Materiality at the Universität Innsbruck’s Synthetic Landscape Lab, Institute of Urban Design. At SOAM, Andrea and Vadim will work on Treasury for Planetary Survival. This project will design the rules of engagement with a ‘Treasury for Planetary Survival’, leveraging the SNI’s Dececentralised Ecological Economics Protocol (DEEP). Proceeds from the utilisation of DEEP are funneld to a treasury and accessible by participating #biodiversity stewards. This flow invites new mechanisms for coordinating the engagement with #greenfinance and #greentech markets ultimately inscribing the stewards as key #network sovereigns. ℹ️ More info on: www.soam.earth #SOAM #residency #transformation #future #network #sovereignty #governance #regeneration

🌐 MEET OUR RESIDENTS: VIRGINIA ZANG, JOHN MICHALOVE & JUDD SMITH Virginia Zangs, Johan Michalove and Judd Smith are part of SOAM’s Network Sovereignties Residency Program running from May until October 2024. Virginia (she/her) is an #interdisciplinary researcher, designer, and architect. She explores alternative forms of #architecture and technologies as infrastructures of knowledge production, situated in both physical and digital place. Virginia is currently working as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Center for Spatial Research – Columbia University and specializing in the Computational Design Practices program at GSAPP-Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. Johan (he/him) is a PhD student in Information Science at Cornell University. His work investigates the rhythms and flows of urban algorithmically mediated systems. He uses rhythmanalysis and ethnographic methods to study these systems. Prior to coming to Cornell, he taught and developed the curriculum for a Master’s program in Applied #Cybernetics at the Australian National University. Judd is a multi-disciplinary designer & researcher, focusing on the intersection between #language, #systemsdesign and #visualculture. He investigates how the choice-architecture of mobile technology on a technical affordance-level influence how we navigate our physical world and our texture of interpersonal communication. He is con-currently pursuing his master’s at Columbia University in Computational Design Practices within the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation while still serving as a product designer. At SOAM, Virginia, Johan and Judd will work on regenerative infrastructuring practices. Their project will explore #network sovereignties focused on #governance modalities that consider both human and non-human stakeholders. In this way, their project aims to (re-)imagine infrastructures that promote planetary well-being and bolster bio-regional initiatives. They set out to work on case studies that focus on decentralized, regenerative approaches, integrating network technologies with local #community and #ecosystem #stewardship. ℹ️ More info on: www.soam.earth #SOAM #residency #transformation #future #network #sovereignty #bioregions #regeneration #transition

🌐 MEET OUR RESIDENTS: MORGAN RICHARDS & DEBORAH DA CRUZ SCHAFHAUSER Morgan Richards and Deborah da Cruz Schafhauser are part of SOAM’s Network Sovereignties Residency Program running from May until October 2024. Morgan (he/him) is a synthetic biologist and nature enthusiast who is deeply inspired by the stability and utility of the biological world. His practice is dedicated to leveraging these biological principles and building blocks to foster a more sustainable future. Throughout his journey, Morgan discovered that the main barriers to #sustainability are often social or political, rather than scientific. He employs systems engineering and biomimetic design to drive social #change, aiming for a sustainable and equitable #future. Deborah (she/her) is a biotechnologist with a deep interest in the interplay between #technology and society. Her focus on Latin America is motivated by the region’s historical resistance to colonization through technology. Deborah integrates the theory and practice of social-political #responsibility, passionately working to make a difference in her field. At SOAM, Morgan and Deborah will work on Protopia. This project will use a counter-capitalist framework to build an alternative governance prototype which is better suited to socially and environmentally beneficial outcomes. They will also build a game inspired by Half Eath Socialism to demonstrate their prototype and enable younger audiences to confront the negative externalities caused by capitalism and experiment with alternative socioeconomic and #governance models. ℹ️ More info on: www.soam.earth #SOAM #residency #transformation #future #network #sovereignty

🌐 MEET OUR RESIDENTS: DR. JAYA KLARA BREKKE AND DR. NAVID YOUSEFIAN Jaya Brekke and Navid Yousefian, PhD are part of SOAM’s Network Sovereignties Residency Program running from May until October 2024. Jaya (she/her) is a writer, cryptographic geographer and CSO at Nym, a global, decentralised #privacy tech company. Her work focuses on the impact of technological systems on humans, their relation with the world and sense of self. Jaya holds a PhD from Durham University and is a fellow at the Weizenbaum-Institut in Berlin. She is the author of the Satoshi hippocratic oath for #blockchain developers, co-author of The White Paper (Ignota Books), a republishing and historical contextualisation of the Bitcoin whitepaper, and a contributor to the MoneyLab Reader #2 (2015) and Artists Re:Thinking the Blockchain (2017). Navid is a researcher and consultant specializing in the political economy of the Global South. His work primarily focuses on the intersection of communal #governance, social #justice, and participatory #democracy. He holds a PhD from UC Santa Barbara and currently serves as an instructor in the Sociology Department at the University of Cambridge. Navid is passionate about exploring how the creative use of blockchain #technology can advance decentralized forms of collective governance and ownership. His expertise in decolonial politics guides his efforts to dismantle traditional power structures, helping communities build resilient, autonomous systems rooted in justice. At SOAM, Jaya and Navid will work on StrikeDAO. StrikeDAO is a blockchain-based initiative designed to explore and test the capabilities of #DAO tools in supporting labor movements, with a particular focus on the Global South. While DAOs are active in the #Web3 space it is still uncertain the extent to which such approaches and tooling can be adopted to enable broader social and labour movements. By mutualizing resources across a global network, StrikeDAO will research and trial existing DAO tools and blockchain protocols for enhanced security, transparency and decentralized governance. The aim is for financial assistance to be distributed securely and transparently to striking workers through smart contracts, contingent upon predefined, #community-validated conditions. The StrikeDAO project emphasizes practical research, aiming to optimize labour movement fundraising, improve democratic decision-making, and coordinate efforts during critical times when financial constraints might otherwise limit the revolutionary capacity of workers to challenge oppressive systems. Such architectures are crucial in regions subjected to intensive governmental control and surveillance. ℹ️ More info at: https://soam.earth/ #SOAM #residency #transformation #future #network #sovereignty

🌐 MEET OUR RESIDENTS: ANASTASIA KALININA & TASHA ADAMSKY Anastasia Kalinina and Tasha Adamsky⁩ are part of SOAM’s Network Sovereignties Residency Program running from May until October 2024. Anastasia (she/her) is the co-founder and CEO of reState Foundation, a Swiss-based non-profit foundation aiming to reimagine the future of #governance and global collaboration. She is also a co-founder of Freethinkers Impact Agency, curating transformative experiences and narratives for system change organizations. Anastasia is a World Economic Forum Global Leadership Fellow, People-Centered Internet Senior Fellow, Apolitical Academy Fellow, John Smith Fellow, and an honorary member of the IPMA: International Project Management Association. Tasha (she/her) is a project manager at reState Foundation, a Swiss non-profit focused on governance and global #collaboration. She studies business administration at Reichman University and holds a fellowship at the Rubinstein Center for Constitutional Challenges in Israel. Her research covers constitutional reforms, identity crises, and the impacts of technological advancements. Passionate about #democracy, Tasha advocates for innovative approaches to enhance democratic processes. At SOAM, Anastasia and Tasha will work on Pastel.0. This project will create a comprehensive guide for establishing a digitally networked #community, akin to a Coordi-Nation, tailored for thinkers and activists focused on systems change. This community will be non-territorial, built on voluntary association, shared values, and mutualism, moving away from geographic or inherited identities. By sharing knowledge and resources within this digital space, clearer strategies for rebuilding societies and environmental protection can emerge. Pastel.0 will enhance collective efforts among groups and individuals sharing the same agenda, ensuring their actions are coordinated rather than fragmented. Research into successful digital communities will inform the design principles and technologies for Pastel.0, focusing on its impact, feasibility, and long-term sustainability. ℹ️ More info at: https://soam.earth/ #SOAM #residency #systemsthinking #technology #protocol #change #systemschange #network #sovereignty #decentralization

🌐 MEET OUR RESIDENTS: PROF. DR. IGOR CALZADA Dr Igor Calzada, MBA, FeRSA is part of SOAM’s Network Sovereignties Residency Program running from May until October 2024. Igor (he/him) is a transdisciplinary techno-political scientist who investigates the intersections of digital, urban, and political transformations in the AI-driven Web3 global realm through action research methodologies and #decentralization. Igor is a Principal Research Fellow and Associate Professor at Ikerbasque, Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd and the Decentralization Research Center. With 25 years of international academic experience and as a leading scholar on digital citizenship, smart cities, and political geography, he coined the term ‘Algorithmic Nations’ during his tenure as a Senior Researcher at the University of Oxford in 2018. His extensive research portfolio includes ongoing work on data cooperatives, the rescaling of nation-states, and datafied democracies. At SOAM, Igor’s TRIAD prototype will scientifically and openly explore the potential of the #Web3 paradigm to reconceptualize #sovereignty in the AI-driven digital age. Through action research, Igor seeks to uncover actionable insights and practical strategies for fostering #collaboration and redefining sovereignty in the digital age. In doing so, Igor is interested in (i) understanding how the discourse around New Network Sovereignties is emerging, while (ii) critically questioning whether and how self-determination/secession, as a pressing topic, is considered in this context as a way to pervasively rescale nation-states. Consequently, Igor’s TRIAD project will compare three existing paradigms around New Network Sovereignties: (i) Primavera De Filippi’s et al. (2023) ‘Co-ordinations’, (ii) Sharada Srinivasan’s (2022) ‘The Network State’, and Calzada’s (2018) ‘Algorithmic Nations’. Additionally, TRIAD will compare, through action research, how three existing cases are articulating New Network Sovereignties: (i) the e-Residency Virtual Residence Programme by the Estonian Government, (ii) e-Diaspora platforms experimenting with Digital Nomadism by the Basque Government, and (iii) Decentralized Data Co-operatives in the Global South led by the NGO Ayuda en Acción. #SOAM #residency #governance #futures #transformation #network #politics #decentralised #web3 #technology #citizenship #digital

🌐 MEET OUR RESIDENTS: PROF. DR. IGOR CALZADA Dr Igor Calzada, MBA, FeRSA is part of SOAM’s Network Sovereignties Residency Program running from May until October 2024. Igor (he/him) is a transdisciplinary techno-political scientist who investigates the intersections of digital, urban, and political transformations in the AI-driven Web3 global realm through action research methodologies and #decentralization. Igor is a Principal Research Fellow and Associate Professor at Ikerbasque, Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd and the Decentralization Research Center. With 25 years of international academic experience and as a leading scholar on digital citizenship, smart cities, and political geography, he coined the term ‘Algorithmic Nations’ during his tenure as a Senior Researcher at the University of Oxford in 2018. His extensive research portfolio includes ongoing work on data cooperatives, the rescaling of nation-states, and datafied democracies. At SOAM, Igor’s TRIAD prototype will scientifically and openly explore the potential of the #Web3 paradigm to reconceptualize #sovereignty in the AI-driven digital age. Through action research, Igor seeks to uncover actionable insights and practical strategies for fostering #collaboration and redefining sovereignty in the digital age. In doing so, Igor is interested in (i) understanding how the discourse around New Network Sovereignties is emerging, while (ii) critically questioning whether and how self-determination/secession, as a pressing topic, is considered in this context as a way to pervasively rescale nation-states. Consequently, Igor’s TRIAD project will compare three existing paradigms around New Network Sovereignties: (i) Primavera De Filippi’s et al. (2023) ‘Co-ordinations’, (ii) Sharada Srinivasan’s (2022) ‘The Network State’, and Calzada’s (2018) ‘Algorithmic Nations’. Additionally, TRIAD will compare, through action research, how three existing cases are articulating New Network Sovereignties: (i) the e-Residency Virtual Residence Programme by the Estonian Government, (ii) e-Diaspora platforms experimenting with Digital Nomadism by the Basque Government, and (iii) Decentralized Data Co-operatives in the Global South led by the NGO Ayuda en Acción. #SOAM #residency #governance #futures #transformation #network #politics #decentralised #web3 #technology #citizenship #digital

🌐 MEET OUR RESIDENTS: RADICAL DATA Radical Data – Rayén Mitrovich and Jo Kroese – are part of SOAM’s Network Sovereignties Residency Program, running from May until October 2024. Rayén (they/them) is a Chilean artist, activist and researcher whose work focuses on intimacy, bodies and their interaction with #technology. After 10 years of working on art projects with communities (such as indigenous communities living in isolated areas of Chile, young people in jail, children in social shelters, women who have experienced violence), Rayén co-founded Radical Data to work towards exploring the potential of technology for connection and intimacy. Jo (they/them) is an English-Dutch mathematician, artist and technologist. Their work uses data and technology to create tools for resistance and real #utopias. As the co-founder of Radical Data, they have built tools for anti-fascism, been political consultants for socialists in Latin America and made an #AI learning to be thankful. At SOAM, Rayén and Jo will work on Digital Solidarity. This project aims to adapt and reimagine traditional tools of workers' organization for the gig economy. Focusing on Amazon's Mechanical Turk, Digital Solidarity explores how to connect an atomized and globally distributed workforce. Through collaborative research and development, the project will create open-source software that enhances communication and collective action among digital #platform workers. ℹ️ More info at: https://soam.earth/ #SOAM #residency #futures #governance #technology #transformation

🙌 Exciting news! We are thrilled to announce that Sofía Cossar will join our curatorial team for the 2024 SOAM Residency Program. Sofía (she/her) is a researcher at BlockchainGov specializing in the intersection of blockchain, governance, and identity. Her current focus lies on emancipatory tech interventions that promote more inclusive forms of citizenship(s) within, across, and beyond nation-state borders. 📢 And there's more! We have completed our selection process and are eager to introduce you to our cohort of 14 outstanding residents soon. 👀 Stay tuned for more updates!