Este seminário destina-se à apresentação de trabalhos em curso sobre as inter-relações entre conhecimento científico, tecnologia e formações imperiais. O seminário convoca historiadores, antropólogos e cientistas sociais em geral para uma reflexão conjunta e interdisciplinar sobre a ciência e o fenómeno colonial.
Realiza-se nas segundas quartas-feiras de cada mês, das 12h30 às 13h30, alternadamente na Faculdade de Ciências e no Instituto de Ciências Sociais da Universidade de Lisboa.
As sessões são abertas à comunidade académica e não académica, apelando à participação de investigadores nacionais e estrangeiros, de diferentes instituições
Resumo (em inglês): The Cahora gassa dam - maybe the largest endeavour Of Portuguese colonialism in Africa — is today the *Pride Of Mozambique", according to the Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bass* website (www.hcb.co.mz) and the official documents published once Portugal sold to Mozambique its 80 percent stake in 2007.
Before national independence, however, the large technological system Of Cahora Bassa became a key military target Of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) as it was seen a symbol Of capitalist and ratial exploitation, a tool to destroy African traditions, and a huge war fence.
AS the dam (and the road, electric and productive networks associated) was Supposed to be the last chance to maintain the colonial rule over the region, the Portuguese government turned it into a three-ring-fortress and fought against "Saboteurs" and "machine busters" throughout the Tete region.
The colonial war fronts in Mozambique were political and military, but also scientific and technological. In the 1960s and 1970s. Portuguese and European geographers, biologists and engineers designed the dam structure, studied its ecological impact, searched for ways to deploy industrial development and resources extraction, and planned a massive wave Of white colonization. Native and international anti-colonial forces (from experts to guerrilla members) contested the official scientific discourses and understood that violence was at the Core Of this technological object.