Environmental Humanities at UniFR

On its website, UniFr_ESH says: 

"The University of Fribourg Environmental Sciences and Humanities Institute (UniFR_ESH Institute) was founded in July 2019. It is an interdisciplinary institute supported by all five faculties of the University of Fribourg. In its research and teaching it integrates all disciplines relevant to the environmental challenges of today, concerns of sustainability and questions relating to climate change governance.

The UniFR_ESH Institute is dedicated to research, teaching and continuing education in the interdisciplinary fields of environmental sciences and humanities with a special focus on environmental ethics. Through its teaching, consulting and publications the institute aims to make its research outputs accessible to the general public, including industry, public administration and national and international institutions. Within the University of Fribourg, it contributes to the promotion of synergies in teaching and research regarding environmental topics and sustainability."

The interdisciplinary research group is composed of Ivo Wallimann-Helmer (prof), Tristan D. Katz (PhD), Shea Tomain McBride (PhD), Miriam Zemanova (post-doc), Simon Kräuchi (PhD) und Kathrin von Allmen (post-doc).

In collaboration with the universities of Basel and Zurich, the UniFr_ESH organises network meetings on animal-environmental ethics:

• 03.11.22 First Network Meeting
• 09.11.23 Second Network Meeting
• 21.11.24 Third Network Meeting (call for contributions below)

We invite junior and senior researchers working in the field of animal and/or environmental ethics in Switzerland to propose contributions for this networking workshop by submitting a 500-word abstract via this site (see below). Contributions in the form of a presentation of either current or future (or both) projects should be approximately 15-20 min long and will be followed by time for discussion. You can apply by filling out the from here.

The Environmental Humanities Lunchesinvite scientists and practitioners to critically reflect on their environmental challenges from the perspective of environmental ethics. After an introduction to the environmental challenge by our guests and a brief commentary from an ethical point of view, we offer a space for debate.

• 05.03.2024 PD Dr. André Galli, University of Bern: The Promise and Perils of Space Exploration from a Sustainability Perspective
• 12.03.2024 Kamlesh Brocard, Scientific Advisor at the Swiss Space Office of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) : The Promise of Space Exploration from a Sustainability Perspective
• 09.04.2024 PD, Dr. rer. pol. Mathias Binswanger: Towards an Algorithm-Driven Economy - How AI Manages People and the Economy
• 16.04.2024 Tobias Häberli, Co-Director at Swiss Existential Risk Initiative: Does AI threaten our future on Earth?
• 07.05.2024 Yvan Maillard, HEKS (Hilfswerk der Evangelisch-reformierten Kirche Schweiz):How can a Swiss NGO support Climate Justice and Gender Equality? Examples and case studies from the Global South
• 14.05.2024  Catherine Buchmüller-Codoni, Staatssekretariat für Migration (SEM): Is there Justice in Migration?

The 21st annual summer meeting of the International Society for Environmental Ethics (ISEE) will convene from Monday, June 24 to Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the University of Fribourg Environmental Sciences and Humanities Institute, in Switzerland, and online. More information here.

More information here. Program:

• 11:15-12:30 Christoph Lumer: Responsibilities, compensation, and aid for climate damages  
• 13:45-15:00 Jan-Christoph Heilinger: Compensating for Loss and Damage, and Addressing Structural Injustice in the Climate Crisis
• 15:20-16:35 Kian Mintz-Woo and Ivo Wallimann-Helmer: The Janus Faces of Responsibility for Climate Loss & Damage
• 16:45-17:30 Simon Kräuchi: Beyond Adaptation, Some Ethical Issues Concerning the Allocation of Loss and Damage Funds

More information here. 

Visit the portal page here.