Beyond Human-Centrism: Embracing Interspecies Co-creation and Ecological Recalibration in Biodesign Education

In the Anthropocene era, our curriculum addresses the urgent need to shift from a human-centric, profit-driven approach to one that fully embraces the ecological interconnectedness of humans with non-human species (animals, plants, and myceliums, etc). It challenges the outdated notion of human exceptionalism by incorporating recent scientific discoveries that reveal the complex behaviors and intelligence of non-human species. By engaging students in interspecies co-creation, we probe into non-human intelligence, shift perspectives, and interrogate ourselves. The collaborations go beyond passive looking and require a deep understanding of the non-human species’ intelligence, behavior, agency, and a shared Umwelt between the co-creators. The curriculum is structured in three progressive sections. Initially, students embody the non-human species, using all senses to build intimacy and understand their umwelt. Subsequently, they advocate for these species, creating manifestos that convey their needs and perspectives to a human audience. The final section challenges students to co-create with their non-human counterparts, producing works that not only reflect a shared agency but also embody a commitment to an ecological recalibration. Incorporating field trips, lab visits, and partnerships with wildlife rescue centers, the course covers topics such as multispecies cohabitation and communication, ecofeminism, queer ecology, posthumanism, animal ethics, and the role of animals in indigenous cultures. By questioning traditional design practices and proposing new, experimental ways of co-creation, this curriculum aims to prepare a new generation of Biodesigners equipped to navigate and shape a sustainable future, harmonizing human and non-human systems in an era of ecological uncertainty.