- Interdisciplinary conference in Bern
- Climate impact on societal evolution
- Holocene to historic era focus
- Innovation and academic community engagement
- Sustainable practices emphasized
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TranscriptIn the picturesque city of Bern, Switzerland, the stage is set for a pivotal gathering at the UniS on Schanzeneckstrasse, Room 003, from the fifth to the eighth of June, two thousand twenty-four. The interdisciplinary conference, 'Climate of the Past and Societal Responses to Environmental Changes,' stands as a testament to the collective quest of understanding our planet's climatic history and its intricate relationship with human development.
This ambitious workshop represents the synergy of three PAGES working groups, with Heli Huhtmaa of Climate Reconstruction and Impacts from the Archives of Societies, Martin Hinz of PalEOclimate and the PeopLing of the Earth, and Joseph Manning of Volcanic Impacts on Climate and Society at the helm. Their united goal is to cast light on how societies have been sculpted by historical climate phenomena, including shifts during the Holocene era, and to examine the cultural narratives intertwined with these environmental events.
The conference prides itself on its extensive scope, addressing periods stretching from the late Pleistocene through the Holocene, up to the historic eras. It is an academic odyssey that traverses vast chronological landscapes, geographical expanses, and a multitude of themes. Every anthropogenic society, whether grounded in agrarian roots or complex urban networks, falls within the ambit of this scholarly exploration.
Revisiting the legacy of earlier scientific congregations, the 2024 conference builds upon the intellectual foundations laid by the 2014 meeting in Bern and the 2019 conference in Brussels, which delved into prehistoric wetland sites and the ancient world of the Mediterranean, respectively. Now, under the auspices of the Universities of Bern and Yale, the conversation broadens to encompass the evolution of societies, institutions, and economies in response to the vicissitudes of climate.
This event also emerges as a crucible for innovation and discovery, where results from ongoing research projects funded by institutions like the SNF, NSF, and the ERC will be brought to the fore. The conference is particularly significant for the next generation of scholars, granting early-career researchers a golden chance to present their findings and engage with the academic community.
Financial considerations, often a hurdle for scholarly participation, have been addressed with the provision of funds for early-career academics and those hailing from low- and middle-income countries, ensuring a diverse and inclusive representation of global perspectives.
In keeping with the thematic core of the conference, sustainability takes center stage not only in discussions but in practice as well. Participants from Europe are encouraged to travel by land, favoring trains or buses, reducing the event's carbon footprint. The commitment to the environment extends to the culinary choices as well, with the conference venue set to serve meals comprised predominantly of plant-based, locally sourced, and organically grown ingredients.
For those eager to engage with the issues at hand or adhere to the conference's code of conduct, further details are accessible through the event's dedicated web page and the PAGES Code of Conduct. The gathering in Bern is more than a conference; it is the nexus where the past is deciphered to shape the future, fostering an academic community that is as environmentally conscious as it is intellectually robust.
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