Wednesday 6 May, 18:15

Making and Unmaking of Life: The Politics and Psychology of Fear from the 1970s to the Present

Booking Required

Professor Joanna Bourke, Professor Emerita of History at Birkbeck, University of London, Fellow of the British Academy and OBE, brings extensive scholarship on violence, gender and emotion.

This keynote examines histories of fear and anxiety and their role in the militarization of long-term conflicts, focusing on wound nationalism, Christian evangelical politics, and the sexualization and racialization of psychic life. Bourke explores performative and affective dimensions of institutional and interpersonal attachments and concludes with reflections on the politics of radical justice.

In English.

Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2

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Photo Credit: DR

28 January – 23 December

Our Biodiversity: Memory game

Lectures & Workshops

Jardin botanique

This interactive memory challenge invites participants to test their memory while exploring practical ways to preserve biodiversity based on Geneva’s municipal strategy. Players match “before-and-after” images that illustrate individual and institutional actions, and each correct pair reveals concise information explaining the measure. The activity examines themes such as habitat restoration, species-friendly practices, urban greening and policy responses, helping participants understand the impact and rationale behind everyday and organisational conservation choices.

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28 January – 23 December

Create Your Own Rousseau-Style Herbarium

Lectures & Workshops

Jardin botanique

This workshop explores the traditional process of assembling a herbarium specimen, inspired by Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s collections. Participants learn scientific techniques for pressing and mounting dried plants on old paper, practice botanical labelling and nomenclature, and select specimens to create a personal herbarium sheet. The session examines preservation methods, identification principles and the historical context of Rousseau’s approach, combining practical skills with scientific insight to produce a lasting botanical object.

In French.

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Sunday 5 April, 14:00

Weaving and Crochet Workshop

Lectures & Workshops

Red Cross Museum

This hands-on workshop explores basic weaving and assembly techniques using recycled textiles. Participants learn thread preparation—cutting, sorting and winding—and are introduced to lirette weaving with strips of recycled T‑shirts, plus crochet techniques for assembling pieces and creating texture. The session examines practical methods for transforming waste into functional objects and offers an educational takeaway to support continued practice at home, while emphasising textile reuse, slow making and material potential.

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4 January – 5 April

Rousseau, Whistleblower

Lectures & Workshops

Maison Rousseau

An audiovisual guided tour examines the life and work of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, arguing his writings continue to provoke contemporary debate. Through seven thematic niches the parcours confronts Rousseau’s paradoxes—his claims about nature, society and freedom—and invites visitors to question present assumptions. The session explores how his contradictions illuminate modern political and moral dilemmas, revealing why Rousseau remains a catalyst for critical reflection.

In French.

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4 January – 5 april

Rousseau, Whistleblower – In English

Lectures & Workshops

Maison Rousseau

An audiovisual guided trail immerses visitors in the life and thought of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, examining how his ideas continue to provoke debate. Through seven thematic niches the experience confronts Rousseau’s paradoxes and invites critical reflection on themes such as individual freedom, equality, education and civic life. Participants gain contextual insight into his writings and discover how eighteenth century tensions resonate with contemporary social and political questions.

In English.

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12 February – 4 June

Let’s share our reading

Lectures & Workshops

Bibliothèque de la Cité

This monthly sharing circle invites participants to present short recommendations across books, comics, films, music and video games. Attendees exchange personal reflections, discuss themes, formats and emotional impact, and discover new titles through concise presentations and attentive listening. The format encourages community-driven cultural exploration, deepening appreciation for diverse media and fostering conversation about narrative, aesthetics and personal resonance. Suitable for those who wish to present or simply listen and be inspired.

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Making and Unmaking of Life: The Politics and Psychology of Fear from the 1970s to the Present