'People & Water – Ecologies of Coastal Worlds', Kings College London
10 July 2023
'PEOPLE AND WATER – ECOLOGIES OF COASTAL WORLDS' Cross-Disciplinary perspectives from History, Religion, Art, and Archaeology at King’s College London, a symposium organised by Dr. Irene Polinskaya Pro-Vice Dean in Research Culture | Faculty of Arts and Humanities
“Water is best,” says ancient Greek poet Pindar, referring to fresh water. It is best if you have it, if there is enough of it and if you can control it. Spring water, rain water, river water – its presence, quality, accessibility and reliability have meant a difference between life and death to humans and other forms of life across thousands of years. In turn, ancient Greek philosopher Plato speaks of other water, the salty kind, when he notes that Greek cities are sited around the Mediterranean like frogs around a pond. Coastal locations as historical settlement choices present a special type of hydro-ecologies. Why have humans been attracted to coasts over the millennia and have they figured out the best ways to live in those environments? Do marine and river coasts present different challenges for human habitation?
What of estuaries where fresh and salty waters meet? The event PEOPLE AND WATER is an invitation to all researchers, at King’s College London and beyond, interested in water-related studies at the junction of humanities and other disciplines to share what they are working on, might like to work on, and to explore possible collaborations, share methodologies and discuss conceptual approaches. Whatever your geographic region or chronological period, and whether you think of PEOPLE AND WATER through the prism of literature, history, art, religion, philosophy, or science, law, policy, etc., do join us for a series of presentations and freestyle discussions.
Featured presenters:
Despina Koutsoumba – underwater archaeologist from Greece, working on several projects in the Aegean where she excavated submerged ancient coastal settlements and created underwater archaeological exhibits.
Professor Peter Heather of Medieval History
Dr Jemima Matthews Senior Lecturer in Early Modern Literature and Culture
James Dean Diamond - British artist/photographer & Curator Samia Ashraf work at the intersection of art, science, and environment.