Technologies for the future: under discussion by Alice Courvoisier. Drawing by:: Jess Wallace
SCIENTIST Alice Courvoisier takes a hard look at technologies we surround ourselves with, discussing their impact on our lives, the environment and the lives of others, in this afternoon’s audio podcast.
Most importantly, in Technologies for the Future – A Response from the Heart, she asks: what would form a sound basis for ethical and responsible technological innovation?
“In a context where technologies are often imposed from the top down or by for-profit corporations without proper public scrutiny, I believe this question is relevant to everyone and should be reclaimed by the public sphere,” says Alice, who taught mathematics in the electronic engineering department at the University of York and is a keen storyteller too.
“At this time of extreme uncertainty and misinformation, I will argue that meaningful answers can only come from reconnecting with our hearts.”
Alice, who has taken part in every York Festival of Ideas since 2013, adds: “Please be aware that some of the content can be emotionally challenging as we address issues such as environmental justice, cultural and unconscious bias, and work to dismantle the Western narrative of linear progress.”
“I love the freedom of thought offered by the Festival Of Ideas: to approach a theme from the viewpoints of different disciplines,” says Alice.
Brought to you remotely by the University of York, York Festival of Ideas is full of ideas until June 14, gathering under the new umbrella of Virtual Horizons. For the full programme, visit yorkfestivalofideas.com/2020-online/.
Did you know? Alice in numberland
Dr Alice Courvoisier taught a Lifelong Learning course on the History of Numbers at the University of York.
Alice Wilson: Slack Habits finale tomorrow; solo album next month
YORK singer, artist and Ph.D student Alice Wilson will sing with Slack Habits for the last time at their Old White Swan debut in Goodramgate, York, tomorrow before focusing on her solo album.
For the February 22 gig, she steps in for departed
lead singer, Marsha Knight, re-joining bassist Iain Marchant, drummer Martin
Wilson, guitarist Andy Elmslie and keyboards player Josh Hill, with whom Alice
used to perform in an earlier incarnation of the York band.
Alice and songwriter, guitarist and producer Andy
Wilson – no relation – are progressing quickly with the album’s recording
sessions at his home studio in Holgate, with Andy aiming to have it fully mixed
and mastered in time for a March launch.
Alice, nearing 30, says she has “looked to music for escapism for even
longer than she has looked to books or alcohol”.
“ I was heavily tricked into thinking theatre was not a career,” says Alice Wilson
“My first forays were into musical
theatre when I was at Millthorpe School, then Fulford Sixth Form,” she reveals,
recalling her favourite role being Tallulah in Bugsy Malone when she was 16.
“I did theatre through GCSE to A-level
but was heavily tricked into thinking theatre was not a career.”
Instead, Alice has pursued a scholarly path, starting with joint degree honours in anthropology and sociology at Durham University, “so that I could do both science and arts,” she says.
Next came an MA in urban sociology at
the University of York, specialising in housing. “I’ve blagged my way into
pretty good educational institutions as a result of being a working-class queer,”
she says.
Writing her thesis, creating her art, singing: all in a day’s passage for Alice Wilson
“I’m now doing a Ph.D over the next
three years, again at the University of York, where I’m trying to make
radically affordable houses available for the people who need them.”
As part of her Ph.D in sociology with “heavy
fraternisation with environmental science”, Alice is building a tiny house in
the garden of her Heslington home, 30 square metres in size.
“You might think it’s a glorified shed,
but it’s not that glorified,” she says. “It’s a timber-framed structure with
super-insulation made from re-claims from demolition sites.
“Ideally it does inform my Ph.D, so I want to film it in progress, as well as writing a thesis, doing my art and singing all the while – though it all leaves minimal time for singing.”
Alice Wilson “hopes you enjoy the ear feel of her voice”
The tiny house, once complete, will have three rooms downstairs – a main living room, a tiny kitchen and tiny bathroom – and a stepladder will lead to the mezzanine level above: a crawl floor where you can sleep, says Alice. “It qualifies for recreational use, like a summerhouse, so I’ll use it mainly for painting in.”
As her official profile says: “Alice draws
and paints @neither.both.illustrations and post pictures of herself at the
gym @neither.both. Alice recycles, votes left, and worries about how
productive she is being, like all other millennial snowflakes. She hopes
you enjoy the ear feel of her voice.”
As Slack Habits’ songwriter, Andy most certainly enjoys that “ear feel of her voice”. “Alice sang with Slack Habits for a while, playing the Blues Bar in Harrogate, the National Harley Davidson Convention, pubs, festivals, Lendal Cellars and the Little Festival of Live Music in York, and being featured on BBC Introducing, before abandoning us to go into academia,” he says.
“But I didn’t want to let her talent go, so ten months ago we started working together again.”
Andy Wilson and Alice Wilson working on Alice’s album at his Holgate studio in York
The result is such songs as The Other
Woman, Put That Down and Cabaret Queen. “There’s also a mash-up of Led Zep’s
Whole Lotta Love that turns into Whole Lotta Last Waltz,” says Alice. “That
turns it into being a song about domestic violence.”
Andy adds: “I’ve happened to write and
produce for three or four female singers in recent years and the songs on Alice’s
album tell stories about all kinds of different fictional women, good, happy, sad or bad.
“When I started working with Alice, I
was stunned by her talents and charisma but I was also excited by her ability
to ‘become’ the characters she sings about.
So, it was obvious that she would be the perfect musical partner in an
album project that had been brewing for a while.
“Luckily she agreed and now it’s nearly ready. I hope people are going to be moved and entertained by Alice’s ‘other women’.”
All being well, that opportunity should come next month. In the meantime, watch her singing Slack Habits’ “absolute bangers”, ranging from rock and electric blues to smoky ballads, reggae and funk, from 9pm tomorrow (February 22) at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate, York.
