MSc. Barendregt, L.E.

Laura is a PhD candidate in the Department of Human-Centred Design exploring intersections of Critical Futures, Critical and Participatory Design, Critical Pedagogy and Public Engagement. Her PhD research seeks to understand how design can contribute to the development of more critical, inclusive and democratic ways of engaging with futures, with a specific focus on public participation. She is considering the potentials and challenges of critical participatory futuring in the contexts of natural disaster, flood risk management and climate adaptation in the Netherlands.

In general Laura is interested in the intersections of art, design and public engagement, philosophies of knowledge, ethnographic methodologies and conceptual analysis.

Academic Background

Previously she was a tutor at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Maastricht University, where she also obtained a MSc Arts and Culture (Cultures of Arts, Science and Technology). Her masters thesis considered the analogy between speculative design and thought experiments. Before coming to The Netherlands she studied at the University of Sydney, majoring in Theatre and Performance Studies.

Education

• 2020 ─ Present
  PhD, Critical Futures Design, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands 
• 2017 ─ 2019
  MSc Arts and Culture (Cultures of Arts, Science and Technology), Maastricht University, The Netherlands
• 2012 ─ 2016
  BA (Performance Studies), University of Sydney, Australia

Experience

• 2019 ─ 2020
  Tutor/Teaching Assistant, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands 
• Prior to 2019
  Held a range of freelance and contract positions in Arts/Events Management and Production, during and between studies

Lectures and/or coaches students on:

• Envisioning the Future (Bachelors 2nd year)

• Masters research elective 

• Masters graduation projects

(Students interested in working together are encouraged to get in touch via email)