Art & Science project being developed by Joanna Hoffmann with the ASN Team in the frame of the SPIN-FERT / Horizon Europe (Misson Soil) program
On March 17, 2025, students of the University of Arts in Poznań / Studio for Transdisciplinary Projects and Research participated in an interdisciplinary workshop led by Prof. Joanna Hoffmann assisted by Mateusz Janik. The workshop combined natural sciences with artistic exploration as part of the European project SPIN-FERT EU /Mission Soil.
The workshop began with a presentation of SPIN-FERT and its core goals: transforming agricultural by-products into high-quality fertilisers and peat-free substrates. The session also highlighted SPIN-FERT’s use of cutting-edge technologies, all of which aim to enhance soil fertility and support circular economy principles.
The Breath of Soil: Memory Nexus is a participatory art & science project in which scent acts as a link between soil memory and human memory. It also refers to scent as one of the essential communication tools in nature’s networks. Participants explored the sense of smell as a sensory language and a gateway to memory by discussing how olfactory experiences can reveal hidden dimensions of soil—its living processes, its history, and its emotional resonance. Smell was framed as a form of knowledge and communication, often neglected in scientific and artistic practices, but crucial in shaping our perception of the environment.
During the workshop many students noted how the non-visual and non-verbal experience of smell opened new pathways for creative thinking. The conversation revolved around the potential of integrating sensorial knowledge into artistic practice and environmental awareness.The Breath of Soil – Memory Nexus workshop offered a rare opportunity to connect science, art, and the senses, opening up a new space for understanding the intimate and ecological meaning of soil. Through smell, memory, and creativity, students explored how the earth beneath our feet can speak—if we learn how to listen through all our sense
