MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR WISSENSCHAFTSGESCHICHTE Max Planck Institute for the History of Science

Event

Dec 7, 2018
Transnational Conceptions of Nature and Ecology

In our current moment, complex environmental challenges have causes and effects that clearly exceed national boundaries. Nevertheless, historical and contemporary conceptions of nature and ecology remain influenced by national and transnational cultures. This one-day symposium investigates the connections and faultlines between different understandings of nature and ecology in national and global contexts. In the morning, we consider the entangled cultures of geographically proximate European countries, which have shaped many dominant approaches to nature in science and society. In the afternoon session, we turn our attention to different conceptions of nature and ecology on a global scale. By offering such a survey, we hope to make productive connections, to highlight the limitations and mediations of previous approaches, and to consider together the impact of these approaches on different disciplines and modes of thinking in our own time

Singes et perroquet dans la forêt vierge, ca. 1905-1906 by Henri Rousseau, at Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia. Public Domain.
Singes et perroquet dans la forêt vierge, ca. 1905-1906 by Henri Rousseau, at Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia. Public Domain.

 

Program


09.30–09:45  Introduction

  • James Castell, Cardiff University, and Wilko Graf von Hardenberg, MPIWG, Berlin

09:45–10:45 Europe I

  • Germany—Anna-Katharina Wöbse, University of Gießen
  • France—Charles-François Mathis, University of Bordeaux

11:15–12:45 Europe II

  • Britain—Sarah Whatmore, University of Oxford
  • Italy—Marcus Hall, University of Zurich
  • Eastern Europe—Marianna Szczygielska, MPIWG, Berlin

13:45–15:15 World I

  • Middle East—Jeannie Sowers, University of New Hampshire
  • East Asia—Jinghao (Howard) Sun, Zhejiang University
  • Africa—William Beinart, University of Oxford

15:45–17:15 World II

  • North America—Peter Coates, University of Bristol
  • South America— Eliane Fernandes Ferreira, University of Bremen
  • Australia—Kate Rigby, Bath Spa University

17:15–18:00 Plenary Discussion

Organizer(s)
Related Project(s)
Address

Harnack-Haus, Ihnestr. 16-20, 14195 Berlin, Germany

Room
Laue Room
Contact and Registration

This is a public event, no registration required. Please email Wilko Hardenberg for further information.

2018-12-07T09:30:00SAVE IN I-CAL 2018-12-07 09:30:00 2018-12-07 18:00:00 Transnational Conceptions of Nature and Ecology In our current moment, complex environmental challenges have causes and effects that clearly exceed national boundaries. Nevertheless, historical and contemporary conceptions of nature and ecology remain influenced by national and transnational cultures. This one-day symposium investigates the connections and faultlines between different understandings of nature and ecology in national and global contexts. In the morning, we consider the entangled cultures of geographically proximate European countries, which have shaped many dominant approaches to nature in science and society. In the afternoon session, we turn our attention to different conceptions of nature and ecology on a global scale. By offering such a survey, we hope to make productive connections, to highlight the limitations and mediations of previous approaches, and to consider together the impact of these approaches on different disciplines and modes of thinking in our own time Singes et perroquet dans la forêt vierge, ca. 1905-1906 by Henri Rousseau, at Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia. Public Domain.   Program 09.30–09:45  Introduction James Castell, Cardiff University, and Wilko Graf von Hardenberg, MPIWG, Berlin 09:45–10:45 Europe I Germany—Anna-Katharina Wöbse, University of Gießen France—Charles-François Mathis, University of Bordeaux 11:15–12:45 Europe II Britain—Sarah Whatmore, University of Oxford Italy—Marcus Hall, University of Zurich Eastern Europe—Marianna Szczygielska, MPIWG, Berlin 13:45–15:15 World I Middle East—Jeannie Sowers, University of New Hampshire East Asia—Jinghao (Howard) Sun, Zhejiang University Africa—William Beinart, University of Oxford 15:45–17:15 World II North America—Peter Coates, University of Bristol South America— Eliane Fernandes Ferreira, University of Bremen Australia—Kate Rigby, Bath Spa University 17:15–18:00 Plenary Discussion Wilko Graf von Hardenberg Wilko Graf von Hardenberg Europe/Berlin public