Material Elements Research Articles

Material and Immaterial Symbolic Elements of the Feast of the Congado of Our Lady of the Rosary of Abaeté, MG

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Saint Benedict, and Saint Efigenia in Minas Gerais, focusing on the analysis of memory, heritage, and popular culture, as well as the symbolic elements that characterize this cultural manifestation. Theoretical Framework: The research is based on literature about cultural heritage and Rosary festivals. The analysis addresses the relationship between resistance, religiosity, and the affirmation of identities. We explore the contribution of orality in the perpetuation of cultural traditions, drawing on socio-anthropological theories. Method: The methodology employed was mixed, combining literature review and documentary analysis for historical and cultural background, in addition to empirical data collection through interviews, informal conversations, and video analysis, with the goal of understanding the current dynamics of the festival. Results and Discussion: The results indicate that, although the festival has a Catholic character, it preserves and perpetuates elements of Afro-Brazilian culture. It continues to be transmitted orally, from generation to generation, as a lived experience that blends Portuguese Catholicism and Afro-Brazilian tradition, presenting itself as a space of resistance and identity affirmation. Research Implications: This study emphasizes the importance of preserving cultural manifestations as intangible heritage. The formal recognition of these cultural practices can strengthen collective memory and ensure preservation. Originality/Value: The research contributes to the understanding of the festival as a cultural phenomenon that reflects the interaction of different cultures. Its originality lies in the analysis of the symbolic elements of the festival and in the appreciation of the transmission of tradition.

Lanthanum-Group Elements Promoted PtGa Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation: Exploring Key Performance Descriptors

Propylene, a crucial component in the chemical industry, holds a prominent position as the second-largest material within petrochemicals, serving as a foundational element for major synthetic materials and essential industrial chemicals such as acetone and isopropanol. Conventional propylene production methods confront environmental challenges, promoting the investigation of alternative pathways, such as direct propane dehydrogenation. While commercial PtSn or PtGa-based catalysts have demonstrated success in propane dehydrogenation, further enhancements are imperative to mitigate operational costs. Therefore, this study utilizes four lanthanum-group elements (La, Ce, Pr, and Nd) with varying loadings (1wt%, 3wt%, and 5wt%) to modify PtGa/Al2O3 catalyst, resulting in improved conversion, selectivity, and stability. Furthermore, this research establishes a clear structure-activity relationship based on some key performance descriptors, underscoring the effectiveness influence of reducibility, total acid concentration, and total coke content in conversion, selectivity, and stability. The impact of strong metal-support interactions on conversion and stability should also be considered, highlighting the complexities in accessing catalytic performances. The exploration of diverse performance descriptors revealed in this study contributes to the rational design of catalysts for propane dehydrogenation, addressing ongoing efforts to refine and tailor catalysts for efficient propane dehydrogenation. This study also offers valuable insights for optimizing catalytic performance across various industrial reactions, further advancing the field of catalysis and promoting sustainable and efficient chemical processes.

Unveiling hydrosocial dynamics: discourse and power in Peña Blanca

Water is not just a material element but a socio-natural object of knowledge whose conceptualisation, policing and management carry symbolic and material implications. This issue becomes especially evident in territories where water scarcity and drought pose heightened social and environmental challenges, not least in the face of climate change. Against this background, our research looks at the long history of water privatisation in Chile and at how it has profoundly impacted water scarcity issues, exacerbated desertification, and led to water conflicts. In particular, in Peña Blanca, an agricultural community in northern Chile, these dimensions intertwine and shed light on the territory’s hydrosocial components. Water and fog tell histories of social dynamics, conflicts, cooperation, and climate change. Taking a discoursive approach to ethnographic fieldwork, the paper will analyse interviews carried out with local actors against the background of on-site observation to explore the discursive construction of water and its sociopolitical consequences in Peña Blanca. The paper aims to provide an original perspective on the symbolic and material implications of hydrosocial identities in climate-exposed communities struggling for autonomy, agency, and self-determination.

Development of metrorythmic skills of beginner students in the process of learning percussion instruments

The article aims at highlighting the theoretical and methodical aspects of developing metrorhythmic abilities of beginner students in the process of learning to play percussion instruments. The research methodology chosen for this aim included theoretical (analysis, synthesis, abstraction and generalization) and empirical (pedagogical observation) methods. The essence of key concepts, including “abilities”, “musical abilities” and “metrorhythmic abilities” have been considered. Metrorhythmic ability is defined as the basic unity of musical performance, providing the ability to perceive, interpret, and perform musical works with precision, expressiveness, and technical skills. It was revealed that metrorhythmic abilities are formed in ontogenesis gradually, from basic to more complex elements: from feeling the tempo to operating complex rhythmic patterns. Special attention is paid to the role of rhythm in performance on percussion instruments, where it acts as a formative element of musical material, regulating its movement in time. Methodical approaches aimed at the development of metrorhythmic abilities of beginner students are considered, in particular, practical, reproductive, visual-auditory and problem-based methods. A significant role in the educational process is given to improvisation, which contributes to the development of rhythmic sensitivity, technical skills, creative thinking and the ability to integrate individual interpretations into performance. The essence of creative tasks aimed at the development of emotional response, associative thinking and an independent approach to working with musical works is revealed. It is emphasized that the active musical activity of students, which includes performing rhythmic exercises, analyzing works of various genres and styles, using improvisation and interpretive approaches, is the basis of effective learning. Such methods allow students to develop technical, creative and analytical skills that ensure the success of musical performance on percussion instruments.

Sustainability in Library Collection Development

The topic of sustainability generates keen interest in many contemporary spheres. As vital partners in the publishing ecosystem, academic libraries are implicated in the push to make the content that supports teaching and research more equitable and sustainable. This paper examines the relationship between the practices of academic publishers and the sustainability goals of academic libraries related to collection management, through the lens of a Green Audit featuring a customized rubric to facilitate the assessment of the green practices of publishers. The research team assessed the environmental practices, current impact, and future commitments of publishers, with an anticipated outcome of reducing their library’s carbon footprint and advancing sustainable collection practices. Findings are drawn from an audit of sixteen international academic publishers that examined material elements as well as transportation and infrastructure considerations. Audit results reveal an uneven picture of the industry, owing primarily to funding levels and staffing capacity.

FT-IR, XRD, EDX-SEM and Radiological Fingerprints of Sedimentary Rocks of Bodamalai Hills in Tamil Nadu, India

Objectives: To elucidate the minerals and elements available in sedimentary rocks of Bodamalai hills which is located in Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu state, India. To examine the radiological fingerprints of the rock samples. Methods: Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) Spectroscopy method was carried out to identify the minerals, X-Ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to confirm the presence of minerals and identify the new minerals, and to reveal the chemical composition and morphological studies as well. The Scanning Electron Microscope along with Electron Dispersive X-ray Analysis (SEM-EDX) utilized to detect the presence of elements along with their percentage of weight. The concentration of radionuclides like 40K, 232Th and 238U was determined using High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector and their amount expressed in Bq kg-1. Findings: The minerals Quartz, Calcite, Cristobalite, Gibbsite, Goethite, Halloysite, Hectorite, Illite, Kaolinite, Lepidocrocite, Microcline Feldspar, Montmorillonite, Nacrite, Organic Compound, Palygorskite, Sepiolite, and Siderite are identified through FT-IR and XRD. The nature of the crystanillity of quartz was not uniform from top to bottom, it was randomly present in elevation wise with a range from 1.07 to 1.44. The elements Carbon, Oxygen, Sodium, Magnesium, Aluminium, Silicon, Potassium, Calcium, Iron and Copper found their percentage of weight with atomic percentage. Silicon and Oxygen were dominant elements in rock material. The amount of radiation exposure of radioactive elements 40K, 232Th and 238U was found. Novelty: The availability of minerals and elements was identified in Bodamalai Hills. The metals Al, Fe, Cu, Mg present in this rock were found and their percentage of availability is Al-5.46%, Fe-1.54%, Cu-0.14% and Mg-0.18%. The radiological results indicate that the radioactivity shows only in 40K (58.8±21.1 Bq kg-1 to 264.1±26.2 Bq kg-1) other elements 232Th, 238U were shown below the detection limit (less than 1 Bq kg-1). Keywords: FTIR, XRD, EDX with SEM, Crystallinity Index, Radiological Fingerprint

More than meets the eye: Understanding the importance of the materialities of care at the vaccination encounter in Portugal.

Caring practices during vaccination encounters are deeply interwoven with materiality, encompassing everyday objects and elements that play a crucial role for all actors involved. However, the significance of these materialities in shaping caring relationships within vaccination practices has been largely overlooked. This research seeks to fill that gap by exploring how mundane elements, such as the objects present during vaccination, contribute to the relational dynamics of the experience. Through a qualitative approach involving participant observation of vaccination encounters and interviews with 30 healthcare professionals, four key themes emerged: (i) objects as comfort devices, (ii) caring as gifts, (iii) reinvented medical instruments, and (iv) creating a friendly environment. These findings suggest that material elements are not merely passive tools but active "co-participants" in the vaccination process, influencing the interactions and emotional exchanges that occur. By acknowledging the role of materiality, this research enhances our understanding of vaccination as a relational experience, highlighting the importance of considering these often-overlooked factors in both practice and policy. The study offers valuable insights into how healthcare professionals can utilize materialities to foster more empathetic and supportive vaccination environments.

Foregrounding the background: A methodological reflection on the roles and effects of participant-generated photos

In this methodological reflection, I illustrate how participant-generated photos take on different roles throughout the research process. The photos discussed form part of a study focusing on ‘sustainable’ everyday practices. I account for how the photos act as windows into meanings of sustainability, as windows into sustainable materialities and as artefacts influencing the research process. The aim is to share insights gained as a result of grappling with photos, in terms of their roles – as well as what the photos portray. By bringing materialities to the fore, the photos made me reconsider the role of material elements within everyday practices, which I have come to understand as dynamic and vibrant. I argue that photos, like material elements in practices, provoke and have effects and can help foreground the often taken for granted mundane materialities entangled with everyday life.

A REVIEW ARTICLE ON PHYSIOLOGY OF VISION

The visual pathway predominantly travels beneath the cortex for most of its length. Visual signals in the optic nerves may intersect at the chiasma and then proceed through the optic tracts. The term Ayurveda derives from two words: "Ayu," meaning life, and "Ved," signifying knowledge or science. Therefore, "AYURVEDA" as a whole translates to "the science of life." According to Ayurvedic principles, the universe consists of five funda-mental elements. The body maintains an ideal equilibrium of these elements, and any disruption to this balance results in a state of unhealthiness we refer to as illness. The classical texts of Ayurveda provide detailed insights into the physiology of the sense organs, sensation, perception, and the mind's role in the perception process in an exceptional manner. Indriya (sense faculty) serves as the specialized tool that helps the soul in recognizing even the slightest changes in both the external and internal environments. Indriya acts as the essential element that differentiates living entities from non-living ones. The concept of Indriya pancha panchak, introduced by Achar-ya Charaka, delves into both the anatomical and physiological features of the sense organs. The five sensory faculties include sight (chakshurendriya), hearing (shrotrendriya), smell (ghranendriya), taste (rasanendriya), and touch (sparshnendriya). Each sensory faculty is associated with a specific object: sound (shabda) pertains to hearing, touch (sparsha) relates to the tactile sense, color (rupa) corresponds to sight, taste (rasa) is associated with the gustatory sense, and smell (gandha) links with the olfactory sense organ. Every sensory faculty pos-sesses an excess of one material element. Developed from particular material constituents, each specific sense faculty perceives the properties of its corresponding element. The mechanics of how the external world is per-ceived is referred to as the visual process or the physiology of vision. Ayurveda introduces a special concept known as the Tridosha theory. The three fundamental elements of the human body are collectively termed Tridosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha). The Tridosha governs the physiological and voluntary activities of the body. Ayur-veda elaborates on the physiology of vision by considering the roles of vata and pitta. Pitta encompasses five different types: Ranjak, Pachak, Alochak, Sadhak, and Bhrajak. The "Alochak Pitta" is recognized as the seat of "Drishti." The retinal pigments Rhodopsin, Iodopsin, and Melanin symbolize Alochak Pitta. Alochak pitta is fur-ther categorized into two types: chakshu vaisheshik located in the eye and buddhi vaisheshik found in the brain. There are three stages in this visual process: the light refraction phase, the phase in which light energy is trans-formed into an electrical impulse, and lastly, the peripheral and central neurophysiology involving the geniculate bodies and optic radiations prior to synapsing in the occipital cortex.

Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial application of carrageenan/TiO2 composite materials.

In this study, a highly crystalline anatase/rutile mixed phase carrageenan/TiO2 nanocomposite with a larger surface area was synthesized via the sol-gel process and calcined at 450 °C and 650 °C. The synthesized composite materials were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, TEM, BET and TGA. FTIR confirms the presence of C-Ti-O bond formation in composite. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of both rutile and anatase phases of titanium dioxide in the composite materials. SEM revealed a morphologically porous surface, and EDX confirmed the presence of titanium, oxygen, and carbon elements in the composite materials calcined at 450 °C and 650 °C. The carrageenan/TiO2 composite material calcined at 650 °C demonstrated exceptional antibacterial activities, as it inhibited about 93 % and 82 % for the E. coli and S. aureus bacteria respectively. These findings indicate that the antimicrobial activities of composite is influenced by their crystalline nature, porosity, surface area and small size. Overall study reveals the potential application of carrageenan/TiO2 composite material as a food additive in the food industry to inhibit the growth of bacteria and enhance the self-life of food.

Toward Sino-American Ideological Clash? The Lasswellian World Revolution Approach

Abstract The power competition between the USA and China engrosses the profound fascination of scholars, beckoning them to delve into its intricacies, nuances, causes, and implications for world politics. Regardless of their perspectives on whether normative dimensions are seen as factors solely fueling strategic competition, operating autonomously, or existing within a mutually constitutive relationship with institutions and material capabilities, conventional wisdom such as realism, critical theory, and holistic approach affirms the centrality of material elements in power competition. This article adopts a constructivist lens to analyze complex patterns of international relations and power competition, acknowledging the inherent normative dimensions of power, as much more pervasive, as inherent and independent attributes of any complex, persistent pattern of international relations and, particularly, power competition. In particular, this article introduces an underexplored insight from Lasswell’s “world revolution” concept, termed the “Lasswellian world revolution.” According to this approach, no ideologies remain ascendant indefinitely, they change over time, and the ideology of a rising power often challenges that of an established power. The article contends that this framework provides a fresh lens to understand the intricate interactions between American liberal democracy and socialism with Chinese characteristics, shedding light on the dynamics of power transition and the evolving international landscape. In conclusion, the article posits that we are witnessing the “interregnum.” Unfolding in the interstice between the waning yet dominant American liberal democracy and the nascent yet fragile socialism with Chinese characteristics, this phase marks a period of rivalry and uncertainty between the USA and China.

First-Principles Study on the Mechanical Properties of Ni3Sn4-Based Intermetallic Compounds with Ce Doping

Ni3Sn4 intermetallic compound (IMC) is a critical material in modern electronic packaging and soldering technology. Although Ni3Sn4 enhances the strength of solder joints, its brittleness and anisotropy make it prone to crack formation under mechanical stress, such as thermal cycling or vibration. To improve the plasticity of Ni3Sn4 and mitigate its anisotropy, this study employs first-principles calculations to investigate the mechanical properties and electronic structure of the doped compounds Cex Ni3−xSn4 (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2) by adding the rare earth element Ce. The results indicate that the structure Ce0.5 Ni2.5Sn4 has a lower formation enthalpy (Hf) compared to other doped structures, suggesting enhanced stability. It was found that all structures exhibit improved plasticity with Ce doping, while the Ce0.5 Ni2.5Sn4 structure shows relatively minor changes in hardness (H) and elastic modulus, along with the lowest anisotropy value (AU). Analysis of the total density of states (TDOS) and partial density of states (PDOS) reveals that the electronic properties are primarily influenced by the Ni-d and Ce-f orbitals. At the Fermi level, all Cex Ni3−xSn4 (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2) structures exhibit metallic characteristics and distinct electrical conductivity. Notably, the TDOS value at the Fermi level for Ce0.5 Ni2.5Sn4 lies between those of Ni3Sn4 and other doped structures, indicating good metallicity and conductivity, as well as relative stability. Further PDOS analysis suggests that Ce doping enhances the plasticity of Ni3Sn4. This study provides valuable insights for the further application of rare earth elements in electronic packaging materials.

Choreography and improvisation in hybrid teaching

ABSTRACT Ideas of space within higher education are changing, influenced by pedagogical innovation, emerging technologies, and the experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is most obvious in the expansion of hybrid education, where teaching happens simultaneously both online and on the physical campus. Hybrid learning spaces emerge from dynamic, sociomaterial entanglements that include a range of stakeholders, contextual elements, teaching methods, infrastructure, and more. In this article, we use reflections from our own practice within three postgraduate courses at a UK university to illustrate some key challenges of hybrid teaching. Drawing on sociomaterial research, we propose that choreography and improvisation, as understood within the field of dance, offer valuable perspectives for understanding the dynamic interactions between human and material elements in hybrid learning. We argue that these concepts can complement more familiar understandings of design and orchestration, particularly in hybrid environments, by surfacing alternative considerations of objects, people, activities, and movement across online and in-room spaces.

Identification of Food Safety Intervention Points by Application of Social Practice Theory: Case Study of Pushcart Foods

The applicability of the sociological theory of social practice (SPT) for locating safety intervention points in street food practices was investigated. A randomly selected 100 pushcart street foods/vendors were used for the study. The practice elements enunciated in the social practice theory (materials, competence, social meaning) were identified in pushcart practices by non-participant observation and structured questionnaire. Warmer/containers, plates, dishing spoons, wash-water and food were identified as practice materials. The observed practices bothering on competence were: washing and re-use of plates, opening and closing of food containers, exposure of dishing spoons, use of non-potable wash water and environment of sales points. In order to confirm intervention points indicated by these practices, the presence of coliforms and Salmonella on the elements and sales points (Motor Parks, markets, workshops, construction sites) aerosols were investigated. Coliforms and Salmonella were isolated from the material elements in 16-64% of the pushcarts barely 4 hours after commencement of sales. The choice of sales points was influenced by satisfactory income (meaning element) despite their poor sanitary conditions. The high levels of aerosolised coliforms (2.29-3.38 log cfu/m3) in these sales points indicated environment as an intervention point. This was corroborated by the association between coliform levels on the material elements and the environment (X2=6.32-19.46; P=0.000-0.042). In conclusion, competence and sales environment were indicated as intervention points for pushcart food safety as supported by microbiological analyses. Thus, intervention by encouraging sales of packaged foods in pushcarts can eliminate incompetent handling, vulnerable practice materials and exposure in unsanitary environment.

Cultural Management Case Study Puppet Show Luang Prabang City, Luang Prabang Province

This research paper aims to 1. Study the elements in the transmission of e-pok puppet theatre and 2. Analyze the reality of the persistence of e-pok puppet theatre in Luang Prabang province. The research method is to collect field data by interviewing. The sampling of this research was the village chief, five community members, ten respondents from the Luang Prabang province's department of information culture and tourism, the head of Phalak-Phalam Lao theatre, and two outside experts. Its elements in the e-pok puppet show with the relevant parties and analyzing the reality of the existence of the e-pok puppet show in Luang Prabang province. The results of the study found that the elements created in the production of puppet theatre include 2 elements, which are material elements related to performance or transmission. There are many in the community and local area, such as equipment for making E-pok puppets. And non-material elements related to performance and transmission There are many things involved, such as puppet shows, literature, rituals for taking out the puppets and putting them in the box before and after the performance, and the sound of the drums and cymbals. As for the results of the study, the reality of the survival of the puppet show in Luang Prabang Province includes the risk of continuity, the practice of the community, the risk of succession, the risk of sustainability in access to the use of material elements and related resources, the survival of cultural heritage and other morals that are related to the performance of the puppet show, and the protection or other measures against the risk and encouraging the practice in the future and succession. There are many in the community and local area, such as equipment for making E-pok puppets.

Materiality, Religion and the Digital

This article proposes that the material dimension of religion can be articulated and experienced online. Considering that religion is an embodied phenomenon which relies on material elements, this paper will particularly focus on religious practices taking place in immersive virtual platforms in order to comprehend how the material dimension is manifested by users in their everyday life. Through a theoretical analysis, we propose that 3D social virtual worlds efficiently enable users to experience key material aspects such as embodiment and space, due to their high levels of immersivity, interactivity, and agency, by embodying avatars in customizable spaces. Meyer’s theory of mediation, Hoover and Echchaibi’s Third Spaces of Digital Religion, and Campbell’s theory of Religious–Social Shaping of Digital Technology (RSST) allows us to center the discussion on how religions are practiced and experienced by individuals and communities through various mediation practices, and how digital media acquires more affective meanings when they are involved in religious pursuits.

СТОРІНКАМИ «ЩОДЕННИКОВИХ ЗАПИСІВ: НАРИСУ-ПРИСВЯТИ» (ОСНОВОПОЛОЖНІ ПРИНЦИПИ, ЖАНРОУТВОРЮВАЛЬНІ КОНСТАНТИ, ЛІНГВОДИДАКТИЧНИЙ АСПЕКТ)

Introduction. This article explores the conceptual framework underlying the creation of the popular science and educational manual “Diary Entries: A Dedication Essay.” This manual is dedicated to two significant anniversaries: the 150th anniversary of Oleksandr Dovzhenko Hlukhiv National Pedagogical University, and the 130th anniversary of the birth of O. P. Dovzhenko, a prominent Ukrainian writer, artist, filmmaker, educator, and philosopher. In a time of unprecedented challenges and uncertainty, coupled with steadfast belief in victory and a peaceful future, the university’s academic community remains committed to studying Dovzhenko’s diverse creative legacy. The study emphasises the importance of a comprehensive and conceptual approach to analysing his artistic works. Purpose. The purpose of this study is to present the rationale for creating “Diary Entries: A Dedication Essay.” This manual integrates elements of popular science and educational material, celebrating the significant anniversaries of Oleksandr Dovzhenko Hlukhiv National Pedagogical University and O. P. Dovzhenko. The study conducts a scholarly analysis of the manual’s content, identifying its foundational principles, genre-defining constants, ideological pillars, and key conceptual categories. Additionally, it outlines the publication’s lexicon, semantic field, educational objectives, and linguodidactic orientation. Methods. Theoretical methods were used to analyse literary, journalistic, linguistic, and educational sources, while justifying scholarly perspectives on Dovzhenko’s role in shaping Ukraine’s identity as an independent state. Empirical methods involved gathering stakeholders’ feedback to assess the necessity of the manual. Observational techniques were used to examine linguistic materials, which informed the development of a methodological framework for integrating the manual into higher education pedagogy. Results. Analysis provides an in-depth examination of “Diary Entries: A Dedication Essay”, focusing on its foundational principles, genre-defining constants, stylistic features, and conceptual categories. The study describes the manual’s structure, emphasises its linguodidactic potential, and introduces modern educational approaches for its application. Examples of exercises designed to explore phonetic, stylistic, and semantic features of Dovzhenko’s intertextual expressions are provided, with a particular focus on developing professional competencies in future language and literature educators. Originality. The development of “Diary Entries: A Dedication Essay” represents a novel scholarly contribution. For the first time, a manual combining popular science and educational content has been created to commemorate both the 150th anniversary of Oleksandr Dovzhenko Hlukhiv National Pedagogical University and the 130th anniversary of O. P. Dovzhenko. The manual’s role in fostering professional competencies in future teachers specialising in Ukrainian language and literature is thoroughly substantiated. Conclusion. Future research should continue to examine the life and artistic legacy of O. P. Dovzhenko using comprehensive and personality-centred methodologies. Particular attention should be paid to the integration of his works into modern educational practices, fostering a deeper understanding of his contributions among students and scholars. Expanding interdisciplinary approaches could also offer new insights into the cultural, philosophical, and artistic dimensions of his legacy, further enriching Ukrainian and global scholarship.

Movement, movie-making, and soil art: hope in affectively de/composing pedagogies

ABSTRACT In the complexities of current realities, we are a writing collective of educators interested in placing hope in the present, particularly in composing practices and pedagogies. Drawing on a post-qualitative methodology, we weave together examples of practices of dance/movement, digital movie-making, and soil artivism with specific concepts of affect-as/is-hope. As a counternarrative to writing pedagogies and assessments that are increasingly standardized, product-oriented, technical, rational, and disembodied, we introduce the term de/composing pedagogies to conceptualize the potential in processes of becoming/making/meaning-making that are always something else/more/different and even less. De/composing pedagogies help us name, describe, experience, and examine – individually and collectively – what is moving us and our practices more intensely and deeply; what is making possible new ways of being/becoming/doing for us and for our co-learners (e.g. the teachers and students we work with); and what is expanding potential for us as writers/composers/educators in and across various situations and contexts. As (re)sources of hope, we close with pedagogical questions related to composing through/with elements of experimentation, embodiment, an emphasis on relation and (re)connection, ephemeral and material elements, (e)motion, and the emergence of meaning-making.

"Material !Ndeed" Workshop Series as a Hyper-Focus Niche at the Intersection of Material Selection and Architectural Design Tools

This study examines the "Material !ndeed" workshop series held during the summer semesters of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 at Özyeğin University's Faculty of Architecture and Design. This research assesses the efficacy of "hyper-focused learning," which prioritizes intensive study on a single topic, compared to "hypo-focused learning," which encompasses multiple topics within the same academic semester. The principal objective is to equip architecture undergraduate students with a comprehensive understanding of architectural sub-specialties through a hyper-focused learning approach. The workshops are designed to enhance students' research skills and ability to apply obtained knowledge to various design fields. The workshops offer a complementary learning experience that strengthens their knowledge generation and sharing skills with peer learning. The Material Indeed workshops are configured as a ten-day practice with the participation of fifteen to thirty students, focusing on systematic material selection methods, building components, elements, and conceptual design processes. The initial workshop served as a pilot study, while the second workshop was designed to facilitate the transfer of scientific knowledge to practical applications regarding pilot study results. During the second workshop, students commence seminars on building materials and representational tools, after which they undertake tasks to research and represent the various properties of building materials employed in exterior wall systems. They conduct tectonic analyses of built examples and develop 1/10 scale exterior wall models, synthesizing their findings into the design process. The workshop methodology is based on Kolb's learning process, which combines passive learning through seminars, active learning through research, and experiential learning through model-making. The study evaluates the impact of the workshops on design education, the hyper-focused learning approach, and the educational methods used. A questionnaire applied to participants led to the formulation of a discussion on the potential of hyper-focused learning, intending to improve the quality of design education.

Curating and co-producing atmospheres in street food markets: Exploring the roles and interplay between people, food and spaces

Street food markets are increasingly popular in cities around the world. While their size, formality and success differ, each market offers an affective atmosphere consisting of material and immaterial elements including the food, traders, consumers, aesthetics, sights, smells, sounds and connections to places and heritage. Studies assert that affective atmospheres are staged, yet the actors and activities involved in these processes remain poorly understood. Drawing on 9 months of ethnographic fieldwork, this paper applies the concept of curation to affective atmospheres and examines the curatorial practices of street food market organisers in London. Rather than promoting ‘good’ food, it demonstrates that these commercially motivated curators match demand with ‘appropriate’ (1) spaces, (2) food and (3) people. The paper argues that affective atmospheres are partially staged, in advance, by market organisers but also co-produced by the performances and interactions of traders, consumers, food and other non-human elements during market events. It also asserts that spaces contain and shape affective atmospheres and highlights how specific motivations shape the nature of curation and affective atmospheres.