Universiẗat, Diss., 2003--Frankfurt (Main).

Zugl.: Flensburg, Universiẗat, Diss., 2009.

This dissertation proposes cosmological aesthetics as a critique of and contribution to geologic, geomorphic and geographical aesthetics. This argument is developed in the context of human geographers' growing interests in the dark, imperceptible and unknown forces and fields of Earth and the cosmos. Attention to such cosmic phenomena amplifies the porosity of distinctions between humans, nonhumans and matter; therefore we require an aesthetic theory at the limits of sensing. In developing this aesthetics, this dissertation draws conceptual support in particular from the non-anthropocentric philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead and from Isabelle Stengers' "ecologies of practice". At the same time, the elaboration of cosmological aesthetics emerges from a site-based creative ethnography of Studio Tomás Saraceno in Berlin, and more specifically, from a series of experiments in transdiciplinary collaboration, writing and teaching with Tomás Saraceno. This dissertation interrogates how the surfaces, webs, envelopes and interstices populating and propagating in Saraceno's artwork affect the transmission and distribution of sensation across spaces and scales: in short, how these forms become technologies of cosmo-aesthetic adventure. By engaging with Saraceno's art projects, from On Space Time Foam to hybrid webs and the Aerocene, and by participating in the atmospheric experiments of aerosolar sculptures, this dissertation articulates two core propositions of cosmological aesthetics: first, that aesthetic experience can create tangible, sensible relations with contexts that are far removed, or much wider than, the particular conditions in which we experiment. And second: such adventures in aesthetics emerge from practices bound together by the forces of obligation, attachment and crucially, imagination. Employing foremost the device of the web, cosmological aesthetics explores propositions for bodies to be creatively extended in a vast and vibrating cosmos.

Sweden, as a country, has set the goal to achieve a fossil independent vehicle fleet by 2030, which means that Sweden has to reduce its CO2 emissions by 80 percent. Sources argue that the regulations and different implementations that have been done are not enough to reach the 80 percent reduction in time. The purpose of this paper is to analyze consumers’ preferences towards alternative fuel vehicles by estimating the willingness to pay for rental cars in Sweden. The paper also tries to define the explanatory factors for choosing an alternative fuel vehicle. The data used in this thesis was collected through a choice experiment questionnaire that was distributed to employees and students at Luleå University of Technology. The study concludes that respondents have a willingness to pay at approximately SEK 280 extra to rent and use an electric rental car.

This thesis presents an empirical research that aims to explore insight generation in discrete-event simulation (DES) studies. It is often claimed that simulation is useful for generating insights. There is, however, almost no empirical evidence to support this claim. The factors of a simulation intervention that affect the occurrence of insight are not clear. A specific claim is that watching the animated display of a simulation model is more helpful in making better decisions than relying on the statistical outcomes generated from simulation runs; but again, there is very limited evidence to support this. To address this dearth of evidence, two studies are implemented: a quantitative and a qualitative study. In the former, a laboratory-based experimental study is used, where undergraduate students were placed in three separate groups and given a task to solve using a model with only animation, a model with only statistical results, or using no model at all. In the qualitative study, semi-structured interviews with simulation consultants were carried out, where participants were requested to account examples of projects in which clients change their problem understanding and generate more effective ideas. The two separated parts of the study found different types of evidence to support that simulation generates insight. The experimental study suggests that insights are generated more rapidly from statistical results than the use of animation. Research outcomes from the interviews include descriptions of: the phase of a simulation study where insight emerges; the role of different methods applied and means used in discovering and overcoming discontinuity in thinking (for instance, the role of consultant s influence in problem understanding); how some factors of a simulation intervention are associated with the processes of uncovering and overcoming discontinuity in thinking (for example, the role of clients team in the selection of methods used to communicate results); and the role of the model and consultant in generating new ideas. This thesis contributes to the limited existing literature by providing a more in depth understanding of insight in the context of simulation and empirical evidence on the insight-enabling benefits of simulation based on an operational definition. The findings of the study provide new insights into the factors of simulation that support fast and creative problem solving.

Science has featured intermittently as the subject of theatrical texts since Thomas Shadwell first represented the Renaissance scientist in The Virtuoso (1676). The late twentieth century, however, saw an incremental growth in theatre's interest in scientific exploration, a growth concommitant with the vast impact that science has had on technology, warfare and the machinations of political power. The tensions generated by the disjuncture between the rationality of science and the unpredictability of human society have provided a rich source of material for theatrical investigation into the human experience. The purpose of this thesis is twofold: to reveal some of the thematic concerns that emerge in this genre, and to examine the interplay between theatre and science. Shelagh Stephenson's An Experiment with an Air Pump (1999) provides a useful point of focus for this inquiry. By parallelling two time periods, exposing the scientific objectification of women and, in addition, opening up contemporary ethics for negotiation with the audience, Stephenson calls into question the objectivity and certainty of history, gender and ethical conduct. These she presents as dynamic and evolving fields of discourse that contribute to, but do not solely constitute, knowledge and understanding of the world. An Experiment with an Air Pump also displays an awareness, through its metatheatricality, of theatre itself as an imaginative, subjective discourse which parallels the more intuitive and personal aspects of scientific exploration. The play functions as a microscope, bringing into focus a contemporary world in which traditional systems of understanding and knowledge need to be reassessed and reinvented.

This master thesis covers the subject of Design of Experiment which is a method of executing experiments or simulations in designed and well planned approaches. The method has been investigated and implemented at a Radar shelter at the Giraffe A4 Radar truck developed by SAAB AB. The thesis was offered by SAAB Surveillance in Gothenburg, Sweden, during the spring of 2018. Design of Experiment was found to be a very powerful method for reducing the number of factors in a large system by executing a number of simulations and evaluating their influence on the studied response. The study of the Radar shelter was done by modelling of a surrogate model of the shelter, parameterization of it and execution of modal and static analyses with designed experiments. The factors studied were dimension of beam components and thicknesses of sheet components. Attempts were made to implement a higher parameterization of the design, involving concept variables and other design changing parameters, but without success. The most demanding and important step to consider during implementation of this method is how the factors of the studied system should be chosen. The factors should be easily adjustable and concrete to enable a parameterisation of these and performing the experiments. The most important responses of the system should be well defined along with other fundamentally important responses to guarantee a robust and reliable outcome from the experimentation. The experimenter should carefully revise the conclusions drawn from the results with respect to the defined experimental setup with boundary conditions and load cases. The results are just as good as the inputs to the experiment.

In my final Master´s thesis I focus on the costume´s progress from the basic habitus function. Therefore, I also mention crucial historical eras, which specified the form of costumes, predetermined its development and predicted tendencies, which might affect its evolution. I refer to its role in action stage design. In addition, there are examples of specific artists and their work. Furthermore, I also focus on the chapter about innovative materials and technologies, which may be very useful and highly beneficial for the costume design. In the practical section I refer to my Master´s project, play Froth on the Daydream (Boris Vian), and its realization. Apart from this, I also mention some others of my own projects, such as dance performances, and some attractive principles of technological solutions I have used.

This Master's thesis deals with a topic "Evaluation of various types of degradable plastics degradation in the laboratory conditions of composting". First part is devoted to the description of biodegradable plastics, its use and criteria relating to biopolymerms. There is also described the process of composting and composting technology possiblities. The main part of this work carries out an experiment according to standardized methodology, which deals with the degradability of the materials in laboratory conditions. These materials are commonly available on the Czech and Polish markets. At the end of the work there are discussed results in comparation with the results of other similar experiments.

Ecology of expansion species is still a hot topic. The antropogenic landscape gradually occurred since the Neolithic . The result has been a change in the structure of plant communities and the successful expansion of species such as Calamagrostis epigejos. C. epigejos is expansive, perennial, long-stemmed, rhizomatous grass. Its important characteristic are very large ecological amplitude, high biomass production and a ability adjust habitat conditions. Experiments and studies that are included in dissertation, have the following basic objectives: (1) Investigate the expansion of C. epigejos in plant community. (2) Investigate the theoretical degree of stability of this phytocenosis. (3) Determine the response of C. epigejos to nutrients availability. (4) Test of possibility eliminating of C. epigejos. (5) Suggest a practical use of C. epigeos. Primarily, we monitored the reaction of interest species to management (aplication of N, P, K nutrients, mowing in various combinations). We were interested in its behavior in the plant community. It founded field and pot experiment. Results of field experiment were also used to calculate the theoretical measure of the stability of individual variants. Further research has been directed at eliminating C. epigejos using wireworms (Elateridae larvae species). The study which uses C epigejos for monitoring of deposition of heavy metals, has shown that aspects of the global expansion of the grass are not always negative.