Hearing Futures: Sound Activism, Trans Inclusion, and Intersectional Feminism
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 2:00 pm – 5:15 pm CET/GMT+1Factory
As part of the “Thinking Toward Feminist Futures” event series, this workshop will explore how an intersectional feminist lens—one that is explicitly trans-inclusive—can be practiced and amplified through sound activism and art. Drawing upon oral history methodologies, as well as creative sonic practices, participants will engage with the ways in which feminist and LGBTQI+ movements have historically intersected, conflicted, and evolved. Together, we will investigate how trans-inclusivity enriches feminist praxis and how sound-based art and research can help us imagine and enact more equitable futures.
In examining the interplay of multiple identities and lived realities, we invite participants to explore how truly inclusive, trans-affirming approaches can redefine the future trajectory of feminist activism and scholarship. In addition, our focus on oral histories reveals the interconnectedness of local experiences with broader, global narratives. By hearing the stories and struggles of diverse communities, participants gain a deeper appreciation of how regional contexts both mirror and diverge from wider feminist and LGBTQI+ movements. This approach nurtures a more holistic awareness of the transnational currents of social change, emphasizing that the pursuit of feminist futures is not confined by geographical or cultural boundaries.
Finally, by blending academic inquiry with creative experimentation—most notably through sound activism and art—the workshop embodies the spirit of the experimental humanities. Sound-based methods serve as a powerful conduit for amplifying marginalized voices, translating lived experiences into compelling artistic expressions, and prompting critical dialogue among participants. This synthesis of scholarship, activism, and creative practice underscores the conference’s commitment to innovative, transformative forms of engagement that can inspire and sustain more inclusive feminist futures.
This event takes place in the framework of Francisca Rocha Gonçalves's SC215 Reflecting Human-Environment Relations (Through Sound) and is open to all BCB students and faculty upon registration. If you wish to participate, please contact her at [email protected].
Kira Gama Rocha is a proud trans woman who bridges the worlds of science, technology, art, and communication to foster innovative and inclusive creative environments. She wears many hats—creative strategist, hackathon expert, educator, mentor, and entrepreneur—all united by her passion for bringing people from different fields together and transforming diverse teams into catalysts of real-world impact.
Kira’s expertise in multidisciplinary collaborative innovation took shape through her PhD in Digital Media at the prestigious UT Austin|Portugal Program. This experience solidified her commitment to working across disciplines, ensuring that people from different fields can come together to navigate complex challenges and turn bold visions into practical outcomes.
She has helped both private (e.g. REN, ROCHE Portugal) and public organizations (e.g. Regional Government of Azores, Regional Science and Technology Fund, National Innovation Agency, Science and Technology Park of University of Porto) navigate digital projects, often using collaborative hackathon dynamic events to break down and accelerate the creative process.
At the University of Porto and Porto Business School, Kira is devoted to teaching students how to effectively collaborate, communicate, and innovate across diverse fields. She has spearheaded and participated in multiple EU-funded projects, including EUGLOH and CHAMELEONS, where she promotes a learning culture that values participation and the open exchange of ideas.
As a trans woman, Kira brings a deeply inclusive perspective to her work, ensuring that her emphasis on collaboration also embraces the experiences and contributions of all individuals—especially those often overlooked. She believes innovation is most powerful when it emerges from a mash-up of different knowledge systems, lived experiences, and cultural insights.
In the context of the “Thinking Toward Feminist Futures” event series, Kira’s approach is especially relevant. By blending academic rigor with practical, creative strategies, she encourages participants to think beyond traditional boundaries, creating space for underrepresented voices and forging genuine pathways to a more equitable future. Her leadership demonstrates how technology, art, and activism can intersect to build stronger, more resilient communities—and ultimately shape the inclusive feminist landscapes we strive for.
Francisca Rocha Gonçalves is a researcher from Porto, currently living in Berlin. She a background in biological sciences with a degree in Veterinary Medicine from ICBAS (University of Porto), a Multimedia Master in Interactive Music and Sound Design from FEUP (University of Porto), and a PhD in Digital Media from FEUP (University of Porto). Her research focuses on acoustic ecology in artistic creation as a tool for environmental awareness concerning underwater soundscapes. Developing artistic artefacts that reveal the problem of noise pollution in underwater environments makes it possible to understand changes in vibration and particle motion, both vital components in aquatic life. Combining interests in sound, technology, art and science, Francisca's work aims to raise societal and environmental awareness through artistic practices and sound art. A great passion for biology and music led to a demand to find synergies between nature and sound. Bridging these two worlds, Francisca attempts to find new musical approaches, not only for musical compositions but also for live performances. She recently worked on the AQUATAG project at the IGB Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries and is currently working for ICARUS, collaborating with Dr Johannes Goessling and James Diamond. ICARUS is an arts-science project that focuses on the photonic properties of diatoms and creates upscaled ice sculptures of their internal shells.
Email: [email protected]