Joana Rafael is an architect, researcher and lecturer. Her work focuses on (issues of) ecology, human geography and natural sciences, encompassing contemporary culture, media studies, art and technology. She combines architecture as a discipline of thought and design practice, reflecting on the boundaries of buildings, infrastructures and (radiological-)contaminated territories. Engages in speculative thinking and writing to develop a critical distance from anthropocentric understandings and attend to reciprocal relationships between humans and nature. Joana teaches Contextual Studies and Contemporary Culture-related courses. She is a member of CEGOT (Center for Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning) and CEAA (Centro de Estudos Arnaldo Araújo). Joana is a cofounder of REFINERY BOARD.

Fights with Monsters

The Power of Nature Over the Success of the Nuclear
ATLAS - Mapping the Nuclear Grave and Remediation-Related Campaigns
Published in Leonorana magazine, no 6
Written between November and December 2022

Fights with Monsters reflects on responses and positions placed today in conflict about the ´ray of hope´ reopening discussions in the context of global energy scene - about the power (and role) of radiant technologies and infrastructures in decarbonizing the global economy and solving effects of the pollution monster and climate change.