This research focuses on testing the plasticity of contaminated soils loaded with iron oxide. This includes upcycling the residual iron to create new innovative materials and practices. By blending oxide iron with composite bio-material based technics (e.g. agar, gelatin, and methylcellulose based bioplastics), Brice wants to open up new ways of interacting with matter and build more sustainable and responsive materials related to damaging practices. Brice’s research is focusing on Champs Des Possibles in the Mile End neighbourhood in Montreal, where the contaminants of this area are invisible to the naked eye and the reformation of vegetation and an animal environment hides the persistence of these harmful substances.

Through a series of three hands-on workshops and two talks, Brice’s research will engage the Concordia community with the concept of sustainability. His goal is to share knowledge and raise awareness on the impact of human activities on the environment, and to create educational resources and practical knowledge on DIY techniques for recovering and transforming persistent waste materials. Therefore, the workshops are an important research step that will invite participants to create active materials with the residual and magnetic soils of Champ des Possibles and analyze the soil composition with DIY tools.

This site symbolizes socio-environmental and political tensions involving communities, industry, and ecosystems. The workshop will address these issues with digital production and engage the creativity and reflection of the participants. Recognizing the plural trajectories of participants, the workshop will enhance inclusive and accessible approaches to the field of critical material, technological, and citizen communities’ practices. It will open a dialogue on socio-environmental justice issues related to the digital.

Themes: Waste, Community