It is with immense sadness that we learned of the passing of our colleague Nicolas Nova on December 31st. Nicolas was a professor at the Geneva University of Art and Design (HEAD) and had been working for many years at the intersection of Science and Technology Studies, design, and anthropology. His work particularly focused on digital cultures as well as the Anthropocene. He authored several important works on these topics, including A BESTIARY OF THE ANTHROPOCENE and 8-Bit Reggae: Collision and Creolization. His latest book, Persistance du merveilleux, wittingly investigates the modern mythologies that populate our digital worlds.
For many years, Nicolas was an engaged member of the Swiss STS community. He participated in the plenary roundtable “When Crisis Matters: Reflecting on STS Methods, Concepts, and Interventions,” organized by Nolwenn Bühler during the Swiss STS meeting in 2021. Above all, he was a curious and generous colleague, always taking time to discuss and share his latest discoveries whether in the restaurant car of the 6 a.m. TGV heading to Paris or in the hallways of UniMail’s fourth floor. Nicolas also contributed to several events for doctoral students, sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of the literature and his remarkable skills in noticing and documenting subtle details. He had an immense talent for bringing everyday practices to the forefront of the social analysis of technologies. Formal or serendipitous, moments shared with Nicolas were always intellectually rich and stimulating. He wove connections between people, methods, objects, places, and questions. We are deeply grateful for these contributions. His generosity, boundless curiosity, and wittiness will continue to inspire us for years to come.
The STS-CH board extends its heartfelt condolences to Nicolas’s family, to his partner Bérénice, and to his colleagues and friends.
Nicolas Baya-Lafitte, Florian Jaton, and Loïc Riom
For STS-CH
