One of our team members – Ideja Bajra – has been diving deep into cell biology to explore its potential for visualising peace and peacebuilding in productive new ways. Using AI to help model cell structures, and drawing on research into brain health/healing and what we know about biological self-regulation at the cellular level, she has drawn some fascinating parallels between how our bodies work and different approaches to post-conflict recovery and peacebuilding. In exploring the new perspectives we gain when we bring very different subject areas into dialogue, Ideja showcases the value of interdisciplinary research. Her work suggests that there is huge potential for more cross-fertilisation of this kind. Peace studies have a lot to learn from biology!
In this presentation, for example, Ideja proposes a theoretical model – social homeostasis – which combines concepts in biology with key tenets of peacebuilding. Specifically, she invites us to apply our understanding of symbiotic relations in the natural world and biological ‘feedback loops’ to improve socio-political approaches to conflict prevention and post-conflict transformation.
Building on this work, Ideja introduces us to astrocytes in this presentation. As she explains, astrocytes are a specialised type of cell found in our brains that helps to keep surrounding cells healthy and in tune. Discussing cellular stress, damage and healing via AI-generated images of these astrocytes, Ideja prompts new reflections on inner peace, post-conflict recovery, peacekeeping and peacebuilding – using cellular parallels as a tangible model with which to visualise personal, interpersonal and social peace.
Connected to this work, Ideja has also researched how AI tools and machine learning might be developed to support a wide range of peacebuilding initiatives, from enhancing inner peace to contributing to geopolitical peace processes. In this presentation, she talks us through how we can go about building an AI model for peacebuilding ourselves, as well as reflecting on its potential uses and value for the future.
We have some museum entries coming soon which encourage us to visualise human peacebuilding through animal behaviour; and this museum entry on ‘(un)Natural Altruism?’ discusses the ‘biology of peace’.