The Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network is an exciting initiative in the study of environmental issues. The network presents researchers within the humanities with a forum in which to engage with each other’s work, to share insights, and develop collaborative partnerships. IASH's Environmental Humanities Fellows contribute to the Network in a variety of ways.
We believe that the current environmental crisis is best understood as constituted by a range of diverse but mutually-reinforcing political, economic, philosophical, ethical, relational, and spiritual crises. The Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network exists to provide a humanities-led focus for responses to these crises.
We believe the humanities are uniquely positioned to complement responses to environmental issues in the hard sciences by addressing the values which underpin environmental decision-making, and therefore to evaluate the consequences of what are essentially problems of human interaction (with both the human and the non-human worlds).
The Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network
It is our belief that the holism which informs critical thinking in the humanities complements the ecological nature of the present problems. The network therefore places a particular emphasis on reflection upon, and innovation across, the disciplinary boundaries within which the humanities tend to operate.
The Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network also looks to connect environmental researchers within the humanities with each other, with the wider environmental research agenda within the University, and beyond. The network aspires to be relational in its approach to key themes, issues, and problems.
Organic. We recognise the value of a historically- and theoretically-informed approach to environmental problems. The network will approach environmental issues in a timely and organic fashion, building on existing research to explore new opportunities and insights.
The Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network presents researchers within the humanities with a forum in which to engage with each other's work, to share insights, and develop collaborative partnerships.
Outward-focussed. The network is open to working with researchers based in other Universities and outwith the Higher Education sector. Current partner organisations include the Australian Environmental Humanities Hub, The Seed Box at Linköping University in Sweden, The Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society at Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, the Nordic Network for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies (NIES) at Mid Sweden University, and KTH Environmental Humanities Laboratory.