De laboratorios vivientes a los laboratorios para la vida pluriversal | Maximino Matus | TEDxTijuana

De laboratorios vivientes a los laboratorios para la vida pluriversal | Maximino Matus | TEDxTijuana

From living laboratories to laboratories for pluriversal life | Maximino Matus | TEDxTijuana

by Maximino Matus · View the channel on PSI

Applied Sciences & Engineering Science — General & History GTInterdisciplinary studiesGTSDecolonisation of knowledge
🎙 Maximino Matus 👥 44.7M 📅 October 9, 2026 ⏱ 11 min 👁 32 📄 science communication 🧭 2026-10-10
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

living labspluriverseindigenous knowledgecosmotechnicsbiomaterials

Summary

The speaker, Max Matus, opens by sharing his Zapotec heritage and a childhood memory about a lizard warning from his grandmother. He recounts an early school experience where a teacher explained that everything is made of atoms, which resonated with a Buddhist philosophy about interconnection. He argues that technology is not neutral and that the common desktop metaphor in computing excludes many people, particularly indigenous communities. He introduces the idea of cosmotechnics—the interplay between cosmology and technology—and proposes creating technologies that reflect local worldviews, like using metaphors from agriculture or fishing. He contrasts traditional laboratories that ‘purify’ reality with living labs that engage directly with communities and territory. He founded Skendalab, an indigenous and digital innovation laboratory in his region. An example of their work is using grape pomace (orujo) to create ‘biocuero’ (bioleather), demonstrating a regenerative approach to waste. He emphasizes that discarded elements, like indigenous knowledge, can be resources for radical innovation. He calls for creating more such labs to protect and revitalize indigenous worlds against the imposition of invasive AI, advocating for ‘indigenous AIs’ that support pluriverses. He concludes by inviting the audience to reconsider what they discard and to foster missing worldviews.

196 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The presentation offers valuable insights into alternative technology paradigms, especially the concept of cosmotechnics and the critique of universalist design assumptions. However, the arguments are largely anecdotal, relying on personal stories and cultural myths rather than empirical data or references. The speaker’s proposal for indigenous laboratories is compelling but lacks concrete evidence of outcomes or comparative effectiveness. The argumentation is passionate and persuasive in a TED-style context, but it does not provide a rigorous scientific framework for evaluating the proposed approach.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The talk references no specific scientific studies or external sources aside from general concepts. The title accurately describes the evolution from living labs to pluriversal labs, aligning well with the content. The speaker mentions a book on underground philosophies and the influence of Buddhist thought, but does not name it or provide a reference. The lack of citations weakens the scientific rigor, but for a TEDx talk, it is acceptable. There is no direct evaluation of public comments as none were provided.

178 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content about transforming living labs to encompass pluriversal and indigenous worldviews.

Quality & Reliability

6/10

Discourse based on personal experience and cultural insights, lacks formal citations but offers a coherent and original perspective.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • TEDx Program — Official TEDx program information

Contribution & Novelties

This talk advances the idea of indigenous living labs, merging modern technology with ancestral knowledge. It gives a concrete example of creating bioleather from grape waste, illustrating a zero-waste, community-based innovation model.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Cosmotechnics — Concept by Yuk Hui, relevant to the talk’s core argument.
  • Pluriverse — Notion of diverse worlds coexisting, central to the pluriversal lab idea.
  • Living lab — Methodology for user-driven innovation in real-life contexts.

72 words

Radar Profile

The radar shows a well-rounded talk with moderate information density and reliability, but lower technical depth, suggesting an accessible and idea-driven presentation.

Reliability 5/10