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More about the Congress theme

Much work in ethnobiology has hitherto been guided by assumptions of global loss of knowledge and biodiversity. This, of course, is based on well-founded science and a proper sense of political priorities. However, it is also important to stress the constant re-creation of knowledge in new contexts. Ethnobiological knowledge is not a finite resource which we simply try to salvage, but rather a dynamic set of practices and ideas which are constantly adapting, even under high-tech industrial conditions. For the 2004 Congress we wish to emphasize this, to look at how ethnobiological knowledge is transformed under conditions of rapid social and technical change, through globalisation, and in particular how it adapts in situations of socio-ecological change (e.g. El Niño, sea-level rise, civil conflict, population movements, tropical deforestation, pollution and other severe forms of dislocation). Since the Congress is being held in Europe for the first time, we would also like to give it a particular European spin, by emphasising the ethnobiology of immigrant cultural minorities, the European regional traditions, and traditional minorities within Europe. In addition, we will, of course, continue to provide a platform for the discussion of ethnobiology on a global scale and to involve indigenous peoples from the rest of the world. We believe that this theme gives us sufficient breadth to include most topics we anticipate might be covered, while providing a specific thematic and local orientation. By emphasizing social change we indicate a positive future role for ethnobiology, and by including 'displacement' flag one area (the impact of population movement, relocation and migration) which has been neglected, but which is becoming increasingly important.

More about the host institution and the location

The Department of Anthropology at the University of Kent at Canterbury has a strong profile in ethnobiological research and teaching, focussed on the work of its Ethnobiology Laboratory. It offers research degrees in Ethnobiology and Environmental Anthropology and has taught Masters programmes in Ethnobotany (with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew) and Environmental Anthropology. It has a strong interest in interdisciplinary approaches to biodiversity conservation issues through its linkage with the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), which is a centre within the Department. On the Department, see: http://www.kent.ac.uk/anthropology/

Kent is described in the tourist literature as 'the garden of England'. There are many accessible places of interest for ethnobiologists: Brogdale National Fruit Collection, The Powell-Cotton Museum, the Kent Museum of Rural Life, Wye Agricultural Museum (all less than 1 hour). Canterbury itself is a centre of major cultural tourism. Attractions somewhat more distant include the Millennium Seed Bank, Chelsea Physic Garden, Kew Gardens (all 2 hours). We would hope to arrange for a special pre- or post-conference visit to the Eden Project in Cornwall, and to appropriate sites in nearby continental Europe.

Canterbury is well-situated for access to continental Europe and the Congress is being promoted as a European event, something reflected in the composition of our International Advisory Committee. Canterbury is located in East Kent, with easy access to London (2 hours), Paris and Brussels (3 hours, through the Channel Tunnel). The most convenient international airport is London Gatwick (1.30 hours).

The Congress will be located on the Campus of the University of Kent at Canterbury. Information on the facilities available through Kent Hospitality, our conference subsidiary, can be found at: http://www.kent.ac.uk/hospitality/conference/