More than 700 environmental history scientists gather at the World Congress in Oulu
Environmental history is one of the newer streams of historical research and studies the interaction between humans and nature and related issues such as energy economy, ecologically sustainable practices and the use of natural resources in the historical continuum.
The content of the World Congress will emphasise the value of historical knowledge and understanding for the present and the impact of past events on the future. "It is extremely important to remember that historical knowledge can teach us many lessons about human behaviour and patterns of action, and about the way we see and understand the world around us," says Roger Norum, Cultural Anthropologist at the University of Oulu, Chair of the Congress Organising Committee.
The congress is organised by the Biodiverse Anthropocenes research programme of the University of Oulu in collaboration with the International Council of Environmental History Societies (ICEHO).
The title of the Congress, "Transitions, Transformations and Transdisciplinarity: histories beyond history", highlights interdisciplinarity as one of the main themes of the congress. Cross-disciplinary research, and in particular cooperation with the natural sciences, has long been an integral part of environmental history research.
"Cross-disciplinary" also refers to crossing the boundaries of the academic world and to research that seeks to collaborate with actors outside the academic world, such as businesses, governmental bodies, organisations and civil society. These actors may not necessarily conduct scientific research, but they rely on scientific knowledge in their activities and can benefit from collaboration with scientists," says Norum.
The congress will also bring together global, regional and local issues. The geographically focused debates will concentrate on Africa, South Asia, South America and the Pacific. Indigenous peoples and their relationship with the environment and nature will be a major theme.
In addition to historians, the congress will bring together natural scientists, cultural and literary scholars and other experts whose research focuses on people and the environment.
Keynote speakers include evolutionary biologist, ecologist and National Geographic essayist Rob Dunn, historian Amal Ghazal, who specialises in the Middle East and Muslim communities, and Áile Aikio, researcher at the Siida Sámi Museum, which has been selected as European Museum of the Year. The congress will also be attended by some of the world's leading names in the arts, including Shaunak Sen, director of the award-winning documentary All That Breathes. This film will be screened as part of the Congress programme.
There will also be a workshop open to the public on Thursday 22 August from 16.15-18. The workshop will combine crafts and activism and will involve a community knitting project by knitting together knitted patches made by participants during the congress. Participants from outside the congress are also welcome to knit their own patches for the workshop. The quilts should be A4 or half A4 size and made of steam-washable material. There are no other restrictions on the material or method of making the quilts. The quilt produced in the workshop will be donated to the University of Oulu at the end of the congress.