Pristupačnost
The Department of Sociology was established in 1992 and is one of the core disciplines of the Faculty of Croatian Studies. The concept of sociology studies focuses on the application of sociological theories and social science methodology for understanding social processes and phenomena in the specific context of Croatian society and comparatively in a European and global perspective. The study of sociology aims to train highly qualified sociological research personnel with professional research and analytical skills necessary for productive work in the public and private sectors. The sociology program at the bachelor's and master's levels is organized according to current international scientific standards.
Photo: Illustrative image (AI generated), source: CRASSH – University of Cambridge
We invite you to register for an interdisciplinary workshop that presents and applies the innovative theoretical framework of Autopoietic Ecology, developed by Steven Watson, PhD, Associate Professor (University of Cambridge) and Erik Brezovec, PhD, Assistant Professor (Department of Sociology, Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb).
The workshop, titled Autopoietic Ecology in Action: Building Interdisciplinary Ecologies for Research, Policy, and Practice will take place on Friday, 23 January, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., in Room SG2, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road, Cambridge (CB3 9DP).
About the workshop
The workshop is designed as an introductory programme to the development of the concept of Autopoietic Ecology (AE), which rethinks how knowledge systems self-organize, interact, and are often misinterpreted across disciplinary, institutional, and sectoral boundaries.
The workshop builds on the following scholarly work:
Watson, S. & Brezovec, E. (2025). Autopoietic Ecology: Rethinking Systems, Meaning, and Matter. Pre-print available on ResearchGate. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.18462.24649.
The workshop explores how academic, political, technological, and civic knowledge ecologies can be better understood and more productively connected, without erasing their specificities.
Participants will take part in a dynamic “speed dialogue” format, aimed at:
- identifying shared research interests across disciplines,
- surfacing patterns of fragmentation and misunderstanding,
- identifying opportunities for joint projects, policy development, and applied research.
From theory to practice: the AE-Engine
A key focus of the workshop is the introduction of the AE-Engine, a developmental prototype created at EdgeLab. Unlike systems designed to optimize or predict outcomes, the AE-Engine functions as a mediating mechanism between different meaning systems—educational, scientific, organizational, civic, and technological—aimed at strengthening structural coupling and recursive viability in complex institutional and human–AI environments.
Who should attend?
The workshop is intended for researchers, educators, practitioners, and policy-oriented professionals interested in:
- Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration,
- Systems-theoretical approaches to complexity,
- Human–AI relations beyond instrumental optimization,
- Building sustainable knowledge ecologies within and beyond academic institutions.
Registration
Registration deadline: 22 January 2026
Registration is available via the following link: https://www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/events/49067/
Workshop convenor
The workshop is convened by Steven Watson, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge.