The Institute for Advanced Transdisciplinary Studies (IEAT) at UFMG held a preparatory seminar for the 5th edition of the Intercontinental Academia (ICA5) on April 17, 2026, at the UFMG Museum of Natural History and Botanical Garden. The meeting brought together faculty and young researchers from UFMG who will participate in ICA5, with the aim of deepening theoretical discussions related to the international event, which will take place between 2026 and 2027.

ICA seeks to foster the formation of a global network of young academic leaders through exchanges between early-career researchers, the so-called fellows, and senior professors who act as mentors. The fifth edition will have as its theme “Pluralities of Resonant Relations,” based on the sociological theory of relations with the world, developed by Hartmut Rosa, considered one of the leading social theorists of our time.

The preparatory meeting served as a space for theoretical deepening and academic exchange on Rosa Luxemburg’s thought. Participants in the seminar included faculty members from UFMG: Patrícia Kauark, director of IEAT/UFMG and professor in the Department of Philosophy; Leonardo Avritzer, from the Department of Political Science; Marcelo Cattoni, from the Department of Public Law; Eduardo Neves, also from the Department of Philosophy; and Rita Velloso, from the Department of Critical and Historical Analysis of Architecture and Urbanism.

Also present were young UFMG researchers who will serve as fellows in ICA5: Thiago Canettieri, from the Department of Urbanism; Anna Coli, postdoctoral researcher at IEAT/UFMG; Daniel Pucciarelli, from the Department of Philosophy; Ernane Salles, from the Department of Introduction to Law; and Daniel Medeiros de Freitas, from the Department of Urbanism.

The first presentation was given by Patrícia Kauark on the theme “Between physics and social theory: reflections on the re-signification of the concept of resonance by Hartmut Rosa”. Following this, Leonardo Avritzer and Anna Coli presented the works “Theory of acceleration, systemic dimension of politics and crisis of democracy” and “The digital as totalitarian alienation and why to radicalize the theory of resonance”.

Ernane Salles, Thiago Canettieri, Daniel Medeiros de Freitas, and Daniel Pucciarelli presented the works “Constitutional resonance in silent times: beyond the liberal diagnosis of the democratic crisis”, “Silent relations and critical social reproduction: everyday life between crises in an urban periphery”, “Place, resonance and urban religion: relational geographies of the sacred in contexts of acceleration”, and “Critique and ontology in Hartmut Rosa’s theory of resonance”.

About the ICA

The Intercontinental Academia (ICA) is one of the most successful initiatives developed by members of the international network of University-Based Institutes for Advanced Study and promotes “scientific exchange” between generations, disciplines, cultures, and continents around a topic or theme.

The IEAT/UFMG and the Max-Weber-Kolleg of the University of Erfurt will host the 5th edition of the Intercontinental Academia in two immersion meetings: the first, in June and July 2026, at the University of Erfurt, Germany; and the second, in March 2027, at UFMG, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.