Sabine Winters
Freelance Philosopher of Science and Space
About:
I work as a freelance philosopher of science and space, and as a professional in the world of philosophy I am practically oriented and interested in the process of idea development and the ‘how and why’ behind a theory or process. Over the last eight years, I have organized, directed, and programmed many (over 60) interdisciplinary workshops, meetings, and lectures – in assignment as well as for my platform, Future Based.
In my role as a cultural programmer I’m specializing in art and technology at Theater de Lindenberg in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. I also serve as a tutor, study coach, and philosophy teacher at Product Design ArtEZ University of the Arts. I have extensive experience in film and philosophy lectures, utopian and dystopian thinking, philosophy of science (astronomy), interdisciplinary research, and philosophy.
From January till July 2023, I’ve been conducting research on the role of imagination in space science at the Advanced Concepts Team of the European Agency. Following up on this research I’ve been accepted as doctoral candidate at the Freudenthal Institute Philosophy and History of Science, Utrecht University. Under the guidance of dr. Guido Bacciagaluppi (Utrecht University), dr. Jai Grover (ESA ESTEC) and dr. Mike Stuart (York University), I will be researching the epistemic role of imagination in space science.
I believe that interdisciplinary research allows for a synthesis of ideas that integrates characteristics from different disciplines. The crossing of borders between disciplines can be highly potent spaces, but the challenge lies in how to bridge the different disciplines in such ways that they can trade and integrate information successfully. Moreover, studying topics thematically is an ideal way to bring a variety of ideas and approaches together, which can result in inspiration, new perspectives, and meaningful learning. As a philosopher of science, I have a strong focus in my research on philosophy in astronomy and space.
As the founder of the Future Based platform I’m responsible for curating the program, as well as executing the projects and ideas. I now work with a (permanent) team of freelancers to ensure the continuity of Future Based. For more information and personal motivation on this project, please visit this link. If you want to know more about the projects, please click here.
For more information on my work experience, take a look at my CV or visit Sabinewinters.nl (Dutch website).
Sabine Winters
Education:
PhD Candidate in Space Science Imagination at the Freudenthal Institute, Philosophy and History of Science (2023-present)
Promotor Dr. Guido Bacciagaluppi (Utrecht University) , supervisors Dr. Mike Stuart (University of York), Dr. Jai Grover (European Space Agency, Advanced Concepts Team)
Radboud University – Master degree – Philosophy of Science
Thesis on the work of Johannes Kepler as a thought experiment
Utrecht University – Bachelor degree- Philosophy
Thesis on the role of imagination in scientific thought experiments
Recent projects :
Author of the book The Imagination of Space at Ten Have publishers (forthcoming, June 2027)
Study coach, mentor ArtEZ Product Design (2023 – present)
Philosophy teacher Design Art Technology – University of the Arts ArtEZ (2024- present)
Philosophy teacher Product Design – University of the Arts ArtEZ (2022 – present)
Founder, curator and host Scientific Imagination (2020- present)
Founder & director interdisciplinary philosophy platform Future Based (2018- 2025)
Programmer and project-leader at Art and Technology, at Theatre Lindenberg (2021- present)
ESA philosopher in residence at the Advanced Concepts Team European Space Agency, (January 2023 – June 2023)
Project leader artist in residency ‘Hydrogen’ Foreland Studios (September 2021 – September 2022 )
Head artist in residency programme design studio Fillip Studios ( September 2019-September 2021)
Recent publications:
Scientific Progress is Increasing Ability: AI and Space Science.
Mike Stuart and Sabine Winters (Forthcoming 2025)
Creativity Reinvented: Exploring AI’s Influence on Meaning in Art
ArtEZ Press (Forthcoming, 2025)
Defining Space Debris Policy: A Perspective from Rawls’ Veil of Ignorance
Crime, Criminal Justice & Ethics in Outer Space, Routledge/Taylor & Francis.
Biomimethics: a critical perspective on the ethical implications of biomimetics in technological innovation
Chris Broeckhoven and Sabine Winters
IoP Science, peer reviewed (2023)
Kármán Nomads – When living in space becomes reality
Intense Futurity Systems (2023)
A View from the Moon: How Imagination Offers an Alternative Perspective
Junkyard of the Mind (2023)
The Wicked, the Wanted and the Wonder: How Interdisciplinary Research Changes Directions
Future Based, Fillip Studios (2021)
PhD related presentations :
Scientific Progress is Increasing Ability: AI and Space Science.
Roundtable discussion at the Ethnographies of Outer Space Imaginaries, Infrastructures and Interventions – Vienna 25-26th September 2025
Scientific Progress is Increasing Ability: AI and Space Science.
Presented at the joint conference of the Asia-Pacific Philosophy of Science Association (APPSA) and the Taiwan Association for Logic, Methodology, Philosophy of Science and Technology (LMPST Taiwan) at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, June 17-19 2025.
Space Futures and Imagination – workshop and lecture
Invited as exchanging-fellow by the University of Vienna Future Space working group (May 2025)
Visualization, Imagination and Data Interpretation – workshop and lecture
University of Lapland (September 2025)
Interdisciplinary Thinking in Space Practice – Presentation
Ethnographies of Outer Space Conference, Kraków Poland (2024)
Imagination in Space Sciences – Presentation
Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Latvia (2024)
Lecture and workshop experience:
Lectures and Workshops (2016 – Present)
I delivered a wide range of lectures and workshops for diverse audiences—including policymakers, children, and art enthusiasts—at venues such as several (film) theaters, libraries, P-OST, Kunstenlab, The Next Museum, and the European Space Agency. Furthermore, I participated in panel discussions on ethics and space, including one alongside astronaut André Kuipers. Topics include philosophy of technology, future thinking, utopian anddystopian thought, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of science. A selection:
Technology, Identity, Authority, and Autonomy – Course Writer & Workshop Leader
(2022 – Present)
Commissioned by Overdenkwerk, I developed and taught a course that explores the philosophical implications of emerging technologies. The course is designed for executives and decision-makers.
Future Based – Founder, Initiator, Facilitator
(2018 – 2025)
As the founder of Future Based, I curated and executed the program from concept to delivery. I developed over 60 workshops and meetups, 25 reading sessions, and 50 podcast episodes, creating spaces for interdisciplinary dialogue around art, science, and philosophy.
Science Meets Fiction in Space – Initiator, Curator & Moderator
(2022)
Curated and moderated at Focus Filmtheater Arnhem, a four-part film event Fiction Meets Science in Space, exploring the intersection of science fiction and science. Each evening featured a film screening followed by an interactive discussion with scientists and artists.
Film as Philosophy – Curator, Writer, Teacher
(2018 – Present)
Co-developed and taught four course series (six sessions each) in collaboration with film critic Kevin Toma. The courses explored the intersection of film and philosophical thought, and were held at institutions including Wageningen University, Focus Filmtheater, Cinecitta Tilburg, and Louis Hartlooper Complex.
Winterlab Zwolle ArtEZ University of the Arts– Workshop Facilitator
(2020 & 2025)
Invited to lead a week-long series of workshops on critical future thinking:
• 2020 – Utopia and Dystopian Thinking about the Future
• 2025 – Shaping Solidarity within One’s Own Practice
Certified courses:
Study Career Mentorship: Conversation techniques and guidance (2024)
Curating New Media Art: Process, Interaction, Virtuality: Node Center (March – May 2019)
Two-day course debate and moderating: Debat.nl (2019)
Philosophy of Technology : Twente University (May 2018)
Curating Art and Science; potentials and pitfalls: Node Center (January – March 2018)
Clients:
Fraterhuis Zwolle | Sonnenborgh Utrecht| Design Art Technology ArtEZ|Design Digger| NEMO Wetenschapsmuseum|Post-X-Society|KunstenLab Deventer|The Form of Space, Daniela de Paulis| SVS Dispuut Space engineering TU Delft| The Hmm, platform for internetculture| ArtEZ Press| Humanistisch Verbond|Oddstream | Nxt Museum |Billy Town | Platform P-OST| ArtEZ | iArts Hogeschool Zuyd | Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds| Task Force Fashion | HKU Gamedesign | O-P-A Design platform | Cultuur op de Campus | Hubert | Lorentz Center Leiden University | Louis Hartlooper Complex | Focus Filmtheater | Kunst op de Koffie | Lab11 | Collectie de Groen | Winterlab ArtEZ | ArtEZ | SLAK Ateliers | Nacht van de Filosofie Den Haag | Wageningen Universiteit Studium Generale | Provincie Gelderland | Gemeente Arnhem | Theater aan de Rijn |HKU Utrecht| Generale Oost |Fooddesign studio Katja Gruijters | Studio Halfvol | Ruimtekoers| State of Fashion | Fillip Studios | Foreland.eu | In4nite Design | The Asimov Institute | Hubert Nijmegen | Stichting Beeldende Kunst Den Haag | WORM Rotterdam | Rozet Arnhem | Overdenkwerk | In4nite design platform (Low &Bonar)
Initiated projects:
Curator and moderator of a series of film events on science and the imagination, Fiction meets Science (Autumn 2022.)
Writer and teacher of the course Film as Philosophy (2022-present) and The Thinking Film (2018-2022). Both courses were given at Focus Film theater, Louis Hartloopercomplex and Studium Generale Wageningen.
Writer and teacher of the workshop, What is an Utopia? (2019) Lectured among other at ArtEZ Winterlab and Gamedesign HKU.
Co-initiator and board member of the art fair Get Fed Art Fair (2016-2018).
Artbook publications (a selection):
The Moon is Women
Poetical essay about a view from the Moon to Earth, which is selected among 50 other contributions to be part of the Moonbound Book, by the Moongallery. This book will be published and travel with the Moonlander to the Moon, as the first book on the Moon late 2025.
Commissioned by Anya Janssen for her solo exhibition at Torch Gallery Amsterdam (2025)
Quest on Consciousness
Commissioned by Simone Albers and the White Sieger Award (2023)
What Matters, Matters (on art in public space)
Platform Visual Arts The Hague, anniversary edition,(2021)
Kunst op de Koffie ( art platform, Arnhem, the Netherlands)
Commissioned by Kunst op de Koffie. (2020)
How technology mediates our feeling of belonging
Commissioned by Emmy Bergsma and Sarah Grothus ( 2019)
The Pink Elephant – Essays on the work by Casper Verborg
Commissioned by Casper Verborg and the White Sieger Award (2016)
Volunteer positions:
Board Member (Incoming) – MIR Art Pavilion
Invited to join the board of MIR, an energy-neutral, traveling art pavilion initiated by Alphons ter Avest. MIR functions as both studio and exhibition space for site-specific works at the intersection of art, science, and technology. (2025- present)
Presentation Future Based for ArtEZ Finals 2022 and interview with Aafje Bep van Grieken.