From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Ragna Zeiss
Sent: 16 February 2004 12:32
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject: Technonatures Symposium



  
The Dept of Geography and Environmental, University of 
Oxford;
Dept of Sociology and Anthropology, James Madison University; IRNES
(Interdisciplinary Research Network on Environment and 
Society & 
The Royal Geographical Society Social and Cultural Geography 
Research Group Presents:

TECHNONATURES II
Environments, Technologies and Spaces 
in the 21st Century
                              
Department of Geography and the Environment,
University of Oxford 
Thursday June 24th 2004

In an era marked by accelerating environmental change, and 
deepening battles over eco-technological and 
biotechnological transformations, the nature of 'Nature' and 
the politics of n/Nature is increasingly up for grabs. 
Overlapping conversations in geography and sociology 
concerned with 'the production of nature' (Lefebvre, Smith, 
Castree/Braun), 'contested natures' (Urry/Macnaghten) 
or 'socio-natures' (Swyngedouw), have drawn attention to the 
irreducibly cultural and political qualities of contemporary 
socio-environmental relations and processes. Elsewhere, in 
science and technology studies and anthropology, 
Haraway's 'cyborgs', and 'companion species', or Latour's 
obsessions with 'quasi objects' and 'actants' indicate a new 
desire to think through hybridity. For others still, 
(Harvey, Castells, Urry), a defining feature of contemporary 
times is how political economies of scapes, flows and 
mobilities criss-cross the globe, reworking space/time, 
places and technocultures with increased intensity. Whether 
working through landscapes and townscapes or ecologies and 
bodies, we appear to be increasingly negotiating our ways 
through 'technonatures'.

If Apocalyptic, Romantic and Malthusian laments or 
Promethean technological optimism and a shrill scientism 
appear increasingly inadequate responses to the rise 
of 'technonatures' what other critical responses are there? 
How can we map and engage with a world where 'Nature' has 
become an accumulation strategy for capital all the way down 
(Katz) yet returning to 'pure nature' is neither possible 
nor indeed desirable? In 'technological times' are there 
ways of moving beyond technophobic assertions while still 
being fully aware of the dangers of a society that 
now 'takes technological change alone as the model of 
political invention' (Barry)? What is the most appropriate 
balance of cultural analysis, political economy and 
political ecologies that can critically unpack the 
new 'power geometries' (Massey) of these developments? What 
are the most effective ways to analyse new battle lines 
emerging between those seeking to administer, regulate, 
patent or own emerging technonatures and alternative 
projects to construct alternative modernities, sustainable 
technonatures and environmentally just spatial relations? 

The aims of the technonatures symposia are to create spaces 
for interdisciplinary conversations between the various 
critical theoretical traditions which now populate 
sociology, geography, anthropology and technology studies 
(e.g: eco/post Marxism, post structuralism and actor network 
theory; critical ecological modernism, cyborg feminism and 
political ecology). Technonatures aims to generate an on-
going discussion on how we could move and expand debates 
about 'the environment' beyond ecocentrism and high 
modernist framings; it seeks to imagine 'spaces of hope' in 
unpromising times and anticipate and support a new critical 
politics of technonatures. 

Confirmed Speakers include:

Erik Swyngedouw Geography and the Environment, University of 
Oxford; John Urry Sociology, Lancaster University; Noel 
Castree Geography, Manchester University; Andrew Jamison 
Science and Technology Studies, University of Aalborg; 
Andrew Barry Sociology, Goldsmiths College, University of 
London; Bromyn Parry Geography, University of Cambridge; 
Damian White Sociology, James Madison University; Gail 
Davies Geography, University College London Chris Wilbert 
Planning, Anglia Polytechnic University, Fletcher Linder 
Anthropology, James Madison University.

Costs (lunch, tea/coffee and programme) £20 waged; £5 
unwaged/postgraduate;

To secure a place at the symposium/obtain further details 
contact Damian White, Dept of Sociology, and Anthropology, 
James Madison University, Sheldon Hall, MSC 7501 
Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22801 USA [log in to unmask] or Chris 
Wilbert, Dept of Planning, Anglia Polytechnic University, 
Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1SQ. 
[log in to unmask]
Damian White
***************************************Dr Damian White Assistant
Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, James
Madison University, Sheldon Hall, Harrisonburg, Virginia VA 22801; USA
Phone: 540 568 6423
Fax:540.568 6112
www.jmu.edu/sociology

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