Rethinking the Future with ‘Slow Hope’ in Hong Kong and Beyond: IRCCS Concludes its Environmental Humanities Symposium ‘A Gathered Dialogue: Eco-Afterlives and Slow Hope’

In collaboration with the Department of Literature and Cultural Studies, The International Research Centre for Cultural Studies (IRCCS) hosted a two-day symposium titled ‘A Gathered Dialogue: Eco-Afterlives and Slow Hope’ from 13 to 14 May 2024. The event took place at the Education University of Hong Kong and on Lamma Island, drawing attention to the burgeoning field of Environmental Humanities.

The symposium commenced with a welcoming speech from Prof John Erni, Director of IRCCS and Dean of FHM. Prof Erni highlighted the importance of Environmental Humanities as an emerging focus within the Faculty, which set the tone for the event, and emphasised the need for interdisciplinary approaches to address ecological challenges.

Prof Christof Mauch, Director of the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society in Munich, Germany, contextualised the concept of ‘slow hope’ in his keynote speech. He also shared his personal observations and philosophical reflections on that matter.

The symposium also featured 14 distinguished scholars from Singapore, Hong Kong, and mainland China, who presented their cutting-edge research across various themes, like ‘History and Eco-afterlives of Urban Plants’, ‘More-than-human Materiality and Kinship’, ‘Oceanic Commons and Amphibious Worlding’, and ‘Eco-communities and Alternative Futures’. These discussions explored the complexities of local and global environmental issues with their spatial, temporal, and material dimensions.

Another highlight of the event was an excursion to Lamma Island, led by one of the panel speakers, Dr Leung Po-shan, and her team from Island Studies Network HK. Participants were introduced to Lamma’s rich geographical and cultural history, its diverse more-than-human communities, and its natural landscapes. The dialogues and the ethos of ‘slow hope’ were situated and deepened within the actual local context throughout the meaningful trip.   

Through this symposium, IRCCS aims to create a collaborative platform for environmental humanities scholars and practitioners, where vibrant dialogue and ongoing interdisciplinary collaboration are supported to inspire hope for sustainable futures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Symposium was welcomed by a full-house of participants, including EdUHK scholars, students, and external audiences

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keynote Speaker Prof Christof Mauch delivers his keynote speech ‘Planetary Blues, American Environments and Slow Hope for the Future’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sympsium speakers and participants attend the Offshore Island Excursion - Lamma South: Then and Now