May 28th is International Menstrual Hygiene Day. Every year, we choose to swap the word “hygiene” for “health” to talk about the management of the menstrual cycle. While the term 'hygiene' isn't inherently “wrong”, it can sometimes contribute to the idea of the period as “impure” or “dirty”.
16:00-18:00: workshop by Petra Ardai (from the Amsterdam-based collective, the SpaceExplorers-)Title of the Workshop: Gender Freedom – A Summer Solstice Gathering
This workshop equipped participants with embodied tools to practice care and deepen their interconnection with the more-than-human world. The transformational experiences that the participants had through the movement, physical performance, storytelling and embodiment made them feel more connected as a group.
This kick-off event, organized by Lise Gatti, one of our interns for this year, introduced the Queer Biology capita selecta course to almost 50 people. During this gathering, various examples from nature were used to promote conversations on sexuality, gender and inclusion.
Throughout history, breadmaking and other forms of fermentation have played a key role in the building of communities (both bacterial and human). Down to the etymology of the word 'bread', which has the same roots as the word 'companion', food sharing is a paramount and often overlooked aspect of community building.
This discussion circle, facilitated by Isa Prieto from OtherWise, was hosted on Valentine’s Day. By gathering to discuss love on this day, we subverted some of the dominant narratives around love in our modern day. This space allowed for vulnerable conversation and sharing personal stories from our lives about how love can look differently, and what it can teach us. From queer love, polyamory, love from strangers, love and grief, and more - this discussion circle opened channels to connect the personal and political.
