CFP: The Future of Environmental Activism

The Future of Environmental Activism

Interdisciplinary Research Workshop

Murdoch University, 27-29 September 2018

This workshop brings together researchers from a variety of disciplines (Law, Philosophy, Public Policy, Science, Education, Cultural Studies, and Architecture) and environmental activists to reflect on the historical and contemporary practice of environmental activism as well as envisaging future forms of civic engagement. ‘Environment’ is not understood narrowly as meaning ‘natural landscapes, animals and plants’, but is seen to include the constructed or human-made environment, too.

Topics include (but are not restricted to) the following:

• What can we learn about successful environmental activism from the past?
• Do new technologies change the way we (ought to) engage politically?
• What do the new anti-protest laws in Australia mean for environmental activism?
• Can the private sector ever be a true pioneer of environmentalism?
• When is civil disobedience justified or even ethically required?

The aim of the workshop is to rethink civic engagement and environmentalism through genuine interdisciplinary collaboration. On the first day of the workshop, participants will introduce their respective topics of enquiry in a series of short public presentations (10-20min). On the second and third workshop days, participants will get together in small teams of 2-3 people from different disciplines and develop a joint interdisciplinary research paper. The resulting research papers will form part of a proposal for a special issue of an interdisciplinary academic journal on the topic of the workshop. Participants are expected to attend on all three workshop days. The workshop will be fully catered.

Confirmed invited speakers include (in alphabetical order):

• Dr Catherine Baudains, Environmental Education (Murdoch)
• Dr Martin Brueckner, Sustainability and Public Policy (Murdoch)
• Prof Marnie Campbell, Environmental Science (Murdoch)
• Declan Doherty (Environmental Defender’s Office WA)
• Dr Jo Goodie, Law (Murdoch)
• Dr Nin Kirkham, Philosophy (UWA)
• Prof Toby Miller, Cultural Studies (Loughborough, Universidad del Norte, Murdoch, University of California Riverside)
• Dr Anne Schwenkenbecher, Philosophy (Murdoch)
• Prof Bill Taylor, Architecture (UWA)

The workshop is hosted by The Centre of Responsible Citizenship and Sustainability at Murdoch University in collaboration with the School of Business and Governance, the School of Arts, and the School of Law.

Please submit your paper proposals (500word abstract and title) by 31 July 2018 to [email protected]. Notification of acceptance will be given by 10 August 2018.