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                *with the usual apologies for cross-posting*


Dear colleagues,

It is our pleasure to invite you to submit a proposal to No & ... : A Forum
on Technological Refusal, taking place at Maastricht University on Thursday
5th and Friday 6th February 2026.

What is this forum about?
No & ... : A Forum on Technological Refusal begins from the idea that
refusal is, among other things, a rejection of ones current relationship to
technology (as an individual and/or as part of a collective) and a
simultaneous commitment to another way of being in the world. The no is
accompanied by a yes to another path. In this sense, refusal demands a
careful articulation of what needs to change as well as a vision for a future
that can (and should) be worked towards.
With this forum we provide space for conceptual, practical, and alternative
explorations of refusal, with the history and philosophy of technology as
important starting points. At the same time, we welcome diverse perspectives
to explore refusal as a method for going beyond critique, for opening pathways
towards new possibilities, new choices, and new ways of being in the world.

Keynote:
We are delighted to announce that we have confirmed our first keynote speaker,
Tanja Bosch, Professor of Media Studies and Production at the University of
Cape Town.
Professor Bosch is the author of Broadcasting Democracy: Radio and Identity in
South Africa (HSRC Press, 2017), Social Media and Everyday Life in South
Africa (Routledge 2020); co-editor of Digital Citizenship in Africa (Zed
Books, 2023), and Digital Feminist Citizenship in Africa (Bloomsbury, 2025);
as well co-editor of the Routledge Companion to Social Media and Politics (2nd
edition, forthcoming). Her research includes work on decolonising digital
methods, digital citizenship, and social media culture and activism.
Professor Bosch explores the concept of "refusal" as a generative and
insurgent mode of scholarship within decolonial studies, moving beyond simple
negation to enact epistemic disobedience and challenge capitalist structures
in academia: rejecting extractive logics, resisting metrics of impact, and
centring labour, sovereignty, and solidarity

Themes:
The forum will be organised around the following themes and formats:
Ideas about refusal: What does it mean to speak of refusal in relation to
technology, and how does it differ from or relate to adjacent notions such as
resistance, critique, non-use, disconnection, or withdrawal? How have scholars
and commentators in different contexts framed the boundaries and possibilities
of refusal?
The time(s) and place(s) of refusal: In what moments and settings does refusal
emerge, and what conditions make it visible or sustainable? How might methods
from history, ethnography, discourse studies, literary and artistic analysis,
or data-driven research help us trace the rhythms, scales, and shifting forms
of refusal over time?
The realities of refusal:  How is refusal practiced, narrated, and embodied by
individuals, communities, or institutions? What kinds of cultural, political,
or artistic strategies give shape to acts of saying no to certain
technologies, whether through avoidance, critique, subversion, or
experimentation with alternatives?
Futures worth wanting: Refusing technology opens the space for articulating
futures that are worth saying yes to.  What are the ideas, conditions,
settings, and discourses that we can now engage with as we embark upon a
different way of being in the world? How can we best evaluate existing and
emerging technologies through the lens of desired future states?

Formats:
Panel presentation: A conventional academic format in which you share your
research, theoretical reflection, or account of a project. Presentations will
be grouped by the organisers into panels with related themes.
Making and Doing: A space for more experimental contributions such as
workshops, collective exercises, activist practices, games, media works, or
artistic provocations. (Please specify how much time the contribution needs
and whether any additional materials or rooms are required.)
Dialogues and Conversations: A less formal setting designed for exchange and
discussion. Short provocations, roundtable debates, or facilitated
conversations can be proposed to open up dialogue across different
perspectives.

Deadlines:
Please submit a short proposal (max 400 words) to
techrefusal@posteo.com by October 31st.
Acceptance will be announced by November 14th, when registration will open.
Registration will close January 7th.

Costs and Practicalities:
The conference will be free and open to all, but capacity is limited to 80-100
people, maximum.
At this moment we cannot guarantee a hybrid option will be available, but we
are exploring the options and will provide an update on this when registration
opens.
Unfortunately, we are unable to contribute to travel or accommodation costs.
However, we will be happy to assist in finding suitable options and solutions
where required  please do get in touch.
Lunch and coffee will be provided on both days.
A conference dinner will also be offered (at participants own cost), more
details will follow.

On behalf of the conference organisation committee:
Dani Shanley (chair CTP), Tricia Griffin, Marte Henningsen, Ricky Janssen,
Judith Campagne, and Flora Lysen.


Critical Technoscience Platform @ Maastricht University
The Forum marks the launch of the Critical Technoscience Platform at
Maastricht University. The platform provides a space for dialogue about the
role of technology in contemporary life. The research of our members spans
historical and contemporary perspectives on technology, from foundational
questions in the philosophy of technology to urgent contemporary challenges
e.g. digital sovereignty, surveillance, and the future of work, and care.
Together, we examine how technologies are developed, deployed, and
experienced, with particular attention to questions of power, participation,
and resistance. The platform operates under the MUSTS Research Programme and
is part of a national research network interested in the ethics and politics
of emerging technologies (EPET). Our members proactively develop connections
outside of the university, fostering collaboration between academic research
and diverse societal actors.
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