Borrowing the concept of free radicals from molecular physics and chemistry, this course explores the creative process of combining materials--often odd pairings that appear quite unrelated to each other--to initiate chain reactions. These reactions can be unexpected; the process is not predetermined or planned down to details, but rather leaves itself open to chance and in(ter)vention. Through a series of lectures and practical, material workshops, students will collaborate on research and creative projects that investigate what happens when you put one process, action or material next to another, what agents are necessary to affect the addition, and what research processes can be explored beyond the obvious additive one. References for the course come from theoretical texts (anthropology, philosophy, art-history, etc.), experimental poetry (cut-ups) and music (sampling), as well as films, performances and installations. Students will also take part in joint critiques of their works-in-progress, and the course concludes with presentations of theoretical and practical results in a variety of media.