Regenerative Material Ecologies in HCI
Regenerative thinking is gaining momentum in HCI, shifting the focus from merely mitigating environmental harm to actively fostering cohabitation within more-than-human ecosystems. This shift challenges HCI researchers to develop new methodologies that engage with both material and cultural regeneration—harnessing the regenerative capacities of ecologies while preserving valuable knowledge systems. It also underscores the need for a fundamental onto-epistemological shift beyond anthropocentric notions of sustainability. To support HCI researchers in adopting regenerative approaches while addressing these challenges, this panel brings together a diverse group of design researchers working hands-on with materials ranging from biological to algorithmic. Through concrete examples and actionable insights, the panelists provide practical guidance on engaging with regenerative material ecologies. By interweaving multiple perspectives through a diffractive approach, the panel also explores the opportunities this emerging perspective offers for HCI, particularly at the intersection of sustainability, posthumanism, and decoloniality.
Authors
- Iohanna Nicenboim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8363-8282)
- Elvin Karana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9598-2753)
- Karey Helms (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1454-7854)
- Fiona Bell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3816-441X)
- Laura Devendorf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3656-7936)
- Marie Louise Juul Søndergaard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9884-0205)
- Lining Yao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8842-2317)
- Doenja Oogjes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4398-5060)
- Chris Speed (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0101-8117)
- Yasuaki Kakehi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4063-9944)
- Holly McQuillan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3210-1696)
- Sonya Withers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2520-5470)
Institutions
- Oslo School of Architecture and Design (NO)
- Stockholm University (SE)
- University of New Mexico (US)
- University of Colorado Boulder (US)
- Atlas Scientific (United States) (US)
- Massey University (NZ)
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
- RMIT University (AU)
- Eindhoven University of Technology (NL)
- Umeå University (SE)
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
- Delft University of Technology (NL)
Publication Details
- Published
- 2025-04-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1145/3706599.3716303
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Innovative Human-Technology Interaction
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.94
Funders
- European Commission
- Technische Universiteit Delft
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme