What's On
Whose Nature?
Whose concept of nature should we support in future? Should it be the prevailing paradigm which has arisen from three centuries of academic study of our flora and fauna, or is it time finally to accept that we humans are an integral part of nature and not merely custodians of an open-air museum of biodiversity?
Join Phil Gates and Ros Roberts at this workshop to look at answering this and other conservation questions.
In an informal café-style event, where participants can discuss issues in small table groups over a period of hours, we will be exploring new forms of interaction between practising scientists and the wider County Durham and North East community. We will be asking natural and social scientists and members of wider public about what the purpose of nature conservation should be in the future and how it should be practised. We will also be asking local residents to reflect on their issues relating to nature conservation and consider how their questions could be addressed from the scientific community.
Programme
4pm - Assemble at visitor centre and proceed through garden to Field Station in the Botanic Garden
4.15pm - Introduction and welcome (Phil Gates, Ros Roberts) with tea and biscuits. Short general introduction by Phil Gates highlighting the key question for discussion (see above)
4.30pm - Walk through the garden to the visitor centre, with stops to illustrate some of the issues for the group discussions with stories related to the plants and wildlife in the garden.
5.15pm - Coffee and tea break in the visitor centre
5:30pm - Facilitator announces key question for each discussion group.
5.45pm - Round table discussions in groups of 5, each with a different key question to address, but all closely related to the main question (above).
6:30pm - Feedback and pulling out key themes
7pm - Buffet
7.30pm - Close
This series is part of Durham University's Institute of Advanced Study 2011-12 Futures II Programme. Additional funding has been provided by Beacon NE and Musicon. Organised by the Centre for Social Justice and Community Action and Durham Energy Institute.
Contact gerald.aiken@durham.ac.uk for more information about this event.
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