Experimental geographies

The proliferation of the term ‘experimental’ in human geography has given rise to the question of how geographers experiment. Given the range of different examples ‐ from explorations of sensory methods to attempts at transforming the role of publics in decision‐making ‐ it becomes clear that one cannot talk about a unified experimental geographical approach. While projects share common themes such as challenging methodological limitations or wishing to play a more active part in the ‘production of space’, they also show fundamental differences in their attitude towards knowledge‐making and intervention in the world. A starting point for further research and debate, rather than a comprehensive survey, this article outlines themes, differences and productive tensions within the discourse, and highlights the need to examine the wider politics that experimental approaches are embedded in.