cfp.english.upenn.edu

Ecological Literature and Environmental Education
Venue: Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China
Dates: 14-20 August 2009

Call for Papers

The conference is aimed to prepare for a “New Enlightenment Movement” and to explore the possibility of developing a paradigmic theory of Ecologism. It is jointly organized by the Institute of World Literature and the Center for Cross-Cultural Studies, Peking University, China;Global Citizens for Sustainable Development, India; and Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany; with the support of La fondation Charles Léopold Mayer pour le progrès de l'homme (FPH) and the Beijing Eco Group (BEG). The conference themes include, but are not limited to:

A. Ecological Literature: We invite papers on generic, thematic, rhetorical, historical and comparative studies of ecoliterature. Ecopoetics are particularly encouraged.
B. Environmental Education: While the conference will explore key issues, methodology, multidisciplinary cross-fertilization of environmental education, our focus will be on air, water and consequences of urbanization. Such topics as cosmopolitan ecology, air quality, noise pollution, trash and globalization of disease and plague will be especially welcome.
C. Natural Life Writing: A special seminar will be organized to examine the new field of natural biography, eco-autobiography, environmental journal-writing and other forms of ecologically charged life-writings. We also seek papers on ecocritical interpretation of auto/biography, confession, memoir, letters, epitaphs, wills and so on.
D. New Enlightenment Movement: Towards a Theory of Ecologism

The conference will have three important features: first, more than half of the scholars, especially young scholars and eco-activists will be invited from different areas of Asia; second, we will combine our eco-talk (Part I) with the equally significant eco-field work (Part II); third, we will encourage eco-creative writings from cross-cultural perspectives. Another eco-field work (Part III) will be organized to further the conference themes in the Yangtze River Delta area (Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou). It is part of the Asian Forum for Cross-Cultural Dialogues, a follow-up activity of the China-India Forum in 2007 in India and China-India-Japan Forum in 2008 in Japan. A limited amount of financial aid will be offered to young scholars, eco-activists and environmental leaders.
Presentations will be about 20 minutes long each. Invitation, accommodation information, registration fees and other conference details will be emailed to you once your paper is accepted. Those wishing to make presentations should send a 300 word abstract, CV, and a brief bio to Professor Zhao Baisheng and Mr. Chen Guangchen by 15 July 2009.

Contacts:
Conference Chair
Zhao Baisheng
Professor, Comparative World Literature
Director, Institute of World Literature
School of Foreign Languages
Peking University, Beijing, China, 100871
Email: bszhao@pku.edu.cn
Tel: 86-10-6275 4160(0); 1380 1364 227

Conference secretary
Chen Guangchen
Secretary, Institute of World Literature
School of Foreign Languages
Peking University, Beijing, China, 100871
Email: ultrachen@hotmail.com
Tel: 86-10-6275 4160(0); 1580 1270 226
Fax: 86-10-6276 5009