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HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY RESEARCH GROUP RGS-IBG Annual Conference, 5th-8th January 1998 - Kingston/Guildford Call for Papers HISTORIES OF THE EARTH The ways in which the concerns of 'environmental history' intersect with those of historical geography mean that 'histories of the earth' are becoming a key arena within a series of geographical 'traditions' new and old. The aim of this session is to explore the various forms which this intersection has taken and to bring together the disparate constitutencies which are working in this arena: those who would consider themselves practitioners of environmental history; those who are working on social and cultural constructions of nature; and also, if possible, physical geographers who are concerned with histories of the earth. By thinking through these histories we hope to open up the discussion of how social and physical processes can be conjointly conceptualised, researched and presented. The aim is to think of these 'histories of the earth' as a terrain on which a variety of often separated strands of study can come together to discuss common concerns such as:- - the processes transforming 'the earth' over time - the relationships between the discursive and the material in these processes - ways of understanding environmental and natural histories - the ethical and political questions raised by these histories - the ways of writing and presenting research - e.g. narrative, auto-biography, new textual techniques and electronic media - that pay attention to both physical environmental processes and socio-cultural meanings, and to their interaction in social and environmental history. Abstracts of up to 200 words should be sent to any of the following convenors by 31st May 1997. Dr Catherine Nash Professor Michael Williams Dr Miles Ogborn Department of Geography Department of Geography Department of Geography University of Wales University of Oxford QMW Lampeter Mansfield Road Mile End Ceredigion SA 48 7ED Oxford OX1 3TB London E1 4NS %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%