At the end of June, the Cabot Institute hosted the Global
Environmental Change mini-symposium – a one hour whistle-stop tour showcasing
the breadth of research within this theme of the Cabot Institute. Speakers represented
different schools from the University that actively work on the spectrum of Global
Environmental Change challenges, such as environmental law and policy,
biodiversity conservation, biogeochemical cycles, environmental justice and
environmental history.
Each speaker had time for a very short talk, with some
choosing to focus on specific aspects of their work in depth and others instead
covering the breadth of research carried out by colleagues in their school. The
audience too came from a wide background, with everyone from undergraduate and
masters students up to professors represented. Although with five speakers
(plus some words from the theme leaders, Jo House and Matt Rigby) there was not
much time for questions during the hour of talks, there was plenty of time for
discussion over food and drinks afterwards.
Although it was billed as a miniature event, it set out to
address grand, ambitious, global challenges. It was a short, punchy reminder of
the huge range of research skills found within the Cabot Institute. We might
not have solved the Earth’s challenges in an hour or two, but now that the dust
has settled we certainly have a good idea of who to ask and how to start taking
them on. I look forward to the mini-symposiums for the Cabot Institute’s other
five research themes!
The speakers were:
Kath Baldock – Life Sciences
Alice Venn – Social Sciences and Law
Alix Dietzel – SPAIS
Kate Hendry – Earth Sciences
Daniel Haines – History
The event was hosted by:
Jo House – Geographical Sciences
Matt Rigby – Chemistry
