Wild Things is an international symposium that will advance an interdisciplinary discussion about wilderness as a cultural and social practice to unpack its potential for a more sustainable future.
Drawing on Jack Halberstam’s notion of the wild as a terrain of alternative formulations, a retreat from the conventional, and a provocation, we explore its intuitive association with the more-than-human world, to envision unbounded and unpredictable scenarios in theoretical and empirical research that can emerge at the intersection of social sciences, humanities, economy, environmental sciences and art.
In the symposium, we aim to find our way to, through, and with the wild things in a collective and collaborative endeavour. While navigating the assembly of meanings attached to the wild, the guests of the symposium will contribute to a multifaceted perspective with a focus on wild environments and the identities and traditions they maintain. We will look at the wild as a source of subsistence and income, a way of cultural critique, and as a creative force that transforms society.
A one-day symposium is planned to ensure high-quality research in the long term and to ensure the sustainability and maintenance of the results achieved after the implementation of the grant.
Linda Boļšakova. From “Biology of Love". Photo: Kristīne Madjare, 2021. Courtesy of the artist.
Photo created for the exhibition “Lauka pētījumi”. Curator: Aleksejs Beļeckis.
The belt displayed in the photo has been wreathed from nettles and plastic bags and is part of a performance outfit.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Leanne Townsend, Senior Research Scientist at the James Hutton Institute (Scotland)
- Lukasz Luczaj, Prof. of biological sciences at University of Rzeszów (Poland)
- Evelina Höglund, Researcher Food Process Design at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden (Sweden)
- Rimvydas Laužikas, Prof. of Digital Heritage of the Faculty of Communication at Vilnius University (Lithuania)
- Rainer Peltola, Senior Scientist at Natural Resource Institute (Finland)
- Hanna Muttilainen, Research Scientist at Natural Resource Institute (Finland)
- Rūta Šlapkauskaitė, Assoc. Prof. at Vilnius University (Lithuania)
- Marta Maria Wódz, PhD researcher at KU Leuven (Belgium)
- Andra Simanova, Latvian Mycological Society (Latvia)
- Jana Kukaine, Lead Researcher, RSU Faculty of Social Sciences (Latvia)
- Miķelis Grīviņš, Research Prof., Rīga Stradiņš University (Latvia)
- Anita Zariņa, Dr.geogr., Assoc. Prof., researcher, University of Latvia (Latvia)
The venue
The symposium will take place in the historical building of Āgenskalns Market. Open since 1898, Āgenskalns Market is the largest and oldest market on the left bank of the Daugava River and holds the status of a national cultural monument.
Contacts
rsu [pts] lv
rsu [pts] lvThe symposium is part of the project "RSU internal and RSU with LSPA external consolidation”, No.5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/005 Postdoctoral Grant “Vegetal Agency and Contemporary Art: Towards Sustainable Relationships with a More-Than-Human World”, No. RSU-PG-2024/1-0003
Location
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As Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) is a public institution you could be photographed and/or filmed during the event. Your personal data might be used to further the interests of RSU, e.g. for marketing or communication activities (incl. social media coverage). Read more about your rights see the RSU Privacy Policy. Should you have any objections to your personal data being processed please inform us via e-mail at rsursu[pnkts]lv (rsu[at]rsu[dot]lv).
