麻豆传媒

"Contesting Nature in Central Asia"

July 15, 2016

Central Asian Studies Institute (CASI) Fifth Annual Conference

Contesting Nature in Central Asia

麻豆传媒

September 16-17, 2016

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Call for Papers:

The relationship between humans and their environments is central to both natural and social sciences, yet the fundamental distinction between 鈥榥ature鈥� and 鈥榗ulture鈥� is the reason behind segregation of knowledge into two distinct spheres. 鈥楴ature鈥� is often utilised as shorthand for unchanging laws of existence, the inexorable materiality of being, for inevitability, determinism and teleology.听 As such, the notion of 鈥榥ature鈥� has been challenged by many scholars as a product of 鈥榮ocial construction鈥�, whereby neither humans nor their environments are ever fully 鈥榥atural鈥� or 鈥榗ultural鈥�, but rather are mutually constituted through a network of complex interactions.

We invite contributions from scholars of听Central Asia听related (but not limited to) one of the following themes and/or approaches:

• Social听production/ discursive constructions of nature;
• Social construction of (natural) science/ sociology of scientific knowledge/ science and technology studies;
• The nature of 鈥榟uman nature鈥�;
• The social construction of the environment, geography and ecosystems/ Environmental history/Political ecology;
• Ontology, epistemology, phenomenology and metaphysics of nature;
• The concept of domination of nature/鈥漴ational use of natural resources鈥�;
• Actor-network theory.

We encourage panel submissions and interdisciplinary approach as well as comparative perspectives (with other regions, periods and realities). The working languages of the conference are English and Russian. Limited financial assistance will be available to selected participants based on need. Participants are encouraged to seek funding from their home institution or alternative sources.

To apply, please submit an abstract of no more than 500 words and a short bio (200 words), stating your full name, institutional affiliation, contact details and research interests tocasiaucakg@gmail.com听产测听July 15, 2016. Please address all queries to Svetlana Jacquesson (jacquesson_s@auca.kg) or Mokhira Suyarkulova (suyarkulova_m@auca.kg).

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