Maurice Jansen
Being passionate about ports and port-cities doesn't always make you realize that what you see is not what others see. When you talk to people on the streets in Rotterdam for many people the port is as abstract as a bank. You know that what they do is important in daily life, but take it for granted. This was exactly the case when we started redesigned the curriculum of our Minor Port Management & Logistics at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. How do we engage students with an economic, business or law background with the port. How do we let young academics look at the city in such a way that they can still see the port that used to be? How can we make the connection between the past and the present in such a way that the younger generation will create the future in the port spaces we live and work?
How can we make the connection between the past and the present so that the younger generation will create the future in the port spaces we live and work in?
Instead of giving them just another paper assignment, we challenged students to explore the port-city territory itself. The instructions were clear but left sufficient room for creativity: think of a specific theme such as the port expansion in the 18th century, the conversion from old to new port business, specific equipment such as cranes or bridges which tell the story of evolution or revolution, and of course people. With that in mind we asked them to go out there and take as many pictures as they wanted, but always with a purpose in mind and an explanation. To follow and document their endeavors, each team created a hashtag and/or an account on Instagram, thereby creating the first ever Port-City Instawalk, at least in Rotterdam. The whole concept had to be documented in a promotional leaflet, which aims to invite people to participate and experience the port-city as well.
What we got back at the end of the 8 weeks was as surprising as refreshing and creative, a dozen of instawalks. These instawalks have the Maritime Museum in Rotterdam as the start or end and can be taken by foot, bicycle, even by waterbus. Of course the photos and videos on Instagram were the perfect experience of their port-city expeditions, but the story behind made the picture complete. If you imagine most of these youngsters had never been related to a port, or even Rotterdam, the findings were spot on. When taking a closer look, these students were able to see through the buildings and infrastructures, they realize how the port grew and made a transition to a new use. Despite the city changing, they still feel the maritime atmosphere. They even have gained an understanding how decisions were made in the 1950s when the Municipality of Rotterdam decided to build a tunnel instead of a bridge over the river. They realized that infrastructure is not wasted, but re-used and re-cycled. When old warehouses were left behind, the city took it back and artists and entrepreneurial people refurbished them into something new. They visited neighborhoods and port villages such as Katendrecht and Heijplaat and sensed a new spirit, the spirit of #makeithappen and turn it into something new.
Three virtues of the port-city instawalk
What is so academic about this educational experience? I see at least three virtues. To start with, this Minor Port Management & Maritime Logistics is a broadening minor. It serves to broaden the knowledge of economics and business students, who are yet to encounter what it is like to work in a particular industry. As such it serves as a stepping stone into the port and maritime industry. Secondly, the port-city interface is a research domain in itself. Many ports around the world struggle with the relation with their parent-city. There are numerous examples where autonomous development of the city on the one hand and the port on the other has led to a back-to-back position. The tensions which occur on the interface between port and city is often caused by the scarcity for space, but also about a transition from traditional to new purpose. Port functions may change over the life span of a spatial area, which lead to deterioration and decay, which subsequently could lead to conflicts between stakeholders. This tension can also lead to creativity, if coordinated well. The challenge for the students was to capture these tensions, both conflicts as well as creativity. The third virtue is curiosity. Curiosity may be one of the most intrinsic skillsets a person can have. It opens a perspective, triggers thoughts and allows to make connections between things and concepts which do not seem to be connected. It also provokes discussions and starts a process of refining our learning.
Did the port-city instawalk realize these academic objectives? The truth is in the eye of the beholder, but the port and the city are undoubtedly out there. You just need to learn how to see that they're connected, just like everything else.
If you're interested in setting up your own port-city instawalk, or any other educational event or activity to engage the younger generation, feel free to contact me.
Note:
An instawalk is a touristic walk, which is usually organized by a guide and photographer and lets participants experience a particular part of a city or landscape. While people make their pictures, they are posted instantly on social media, usually Instagram. By doing so, the instawalk follows a specific photo trail, which serves as a footage of the experience itself.
If you're interested in the Rotterdam port-city instawalks: #morethanacity, #oldandnewrotterdam #historicalbuidingspor, #heartbour, #theimpactoftheport, #freeshipping, @impactoftheport, @zerotenmeetsportagain, @010porttour04, @projectofthings, @heartbour_instawalk, @crossways_EUR. Although I scanned the these accounts and hashtags, I do not take responsibility for expressions, views, photos and comments posted on these accounts, now or in future events.