Network Ecologies: Exploring Relations Between Environmental Art, Science & Activism
June 4-6th 2015
Call for Papers
This interdisciplinary symposium is open to anyone working in the fields of environmental art, environmental science and environmental activism, irrespective of whether they are PhD researchers, practicing academics or individuals not affiliated to an academic institution. The symposium is intended to be an open platform, enabling research to be effectively disseminated and shared. We welcome papers that identify methodological concerns, theoretical perspectives and case studies pertaining to the subject of environmental despoliation or industrial pollution, and its representation in the cultural sphere.
Deadline for proposals: 13th March 2015
Confirmation of Acceptance 15th April 2015
About this conference
This interdisciplinary symposium seeks to identify innovative research practices and case studies, which demonstrate how the fields of environmental art, environmental science and environmental politics/activism can be usefully combined, in order to further environmental discourse in the public sphere.
This symposium is therefore interested in breaking down the categorical distinctions between art, science and politics in order to promote examples of research practice which are founded upon a willingness to collaborate and experiment. Of particular interest are examples of activist research practice taking place within the context of environmental science, such as D.I.Y.Bio, Bio-Hacking, or theoretical papers which address the subject of the political scientist. From an artistic perspective, this conference is interested in artists of any discipline who have worked alongside scientists, or embedded their practice in an environmental activist community.
Specifically, we would like to hear from artists or activists who have case studies demonstrating that art can play a positive role in engaging the public in environmentalist discourses. Furthermore, papers dealing with philosophical problems related to the discussion and representation of environmentalism in contemporary art, or in the environmental science community, are also welcome. The subject matter of this conference is intentionally diverse, however, participants are invited to discuss topics such as:
- Thinking ecologically: collaboration and the importance of networks in environmentalism.
- Artistic/creative ways of advocating public policy reform, campaigning for degrowth or addressing the post-carbon economy.
- The scientist as activist: D.I.Y. Bio, Bio-Hacking or historic examples of environmental scientists acting as political figures i.e. Rachel Carson, Barry Commoner etc.
- The function of photography/images in shaping environmental policy/discourse, or as ‘greenwashing’ in the corporate sector.
- The artist as environmental activist: blurring the boundaries between art and environmental politics through activities such as détournement, hacking, subvertising, pamphleteering, self-publishing or through performativity.
- Site specificity and the importance of locality and place in shaping the environmental imagination; conversely, global warming as a non-local phenomenon.
Please send proposals of no more than 300 words (in English) as well as a short biography, including full contact information and institutional affiliation (if any), to: conohar.scott@hull.ac.uk and W.Mayes@hull.ac.uk by 13th March 2015.
A conference registration fee for post-graduate researchers, or those who have no institutional affiliation, is priced at £45 whilst for university staff a fee of £70 is requested. Non-speakers may attend the conference for a flat fee of £20. The registration fee includes a delegates’ lunch each day of the conference. Scarborough, is a satellite campus of the University of Hull and is located in a beautiful coastal resort in the North East of England.
Organisers
Conohar Scott, Leverhulme Artist in Residence, University of Hull 2014-15. Founder of the artists’ collective Environmental Resistance. Dr. Will Mayes Director of Centre of Environmental and Marine Sciences, University of Hull.
For further information please do not hesitate to contact us.
CEMS, University of Hull Scarborough Campus, Filey Road, Scarborough, NorthYorkshire, England, YO11 3AZ
