Antarctica In/ and the Anthropocene International Symposium
This international symposium anticipates the fact that the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings are being held in Santiago in 2016. It brings together a range of perspectives from the humanities, social sciences and Antarctic sciences to think more broadly about Antarctica in relation to the Anthropocene. Drawing on an interdisciplinary impetus, the event invites speakers and participants to debate lessons that might be learnt from Antarctica, where human and earthly futures are increasingly entangled and interdependent in their mutual uncertainty.
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Date
Saturday May 28, 2016
Venue
Sala Matte – Centro de Extension UC
Avenida Alameda Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 390 Santiago Chile
Organizers
Cristián Simonetti (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile)
Juan Francisco Salazar (Western Sydney University, Australia)
Supported by
Background
Our interest is in discussing the impacts of global ecosystems change on Antarctica. The continent and surrounding ocean are undergoing a profound transformation impelled largely by accelerated change in its ecosystems dynamics. Scientists are painting a sober picture of an unfolding and relentlessly unraveling future where changes will only intensify considerably in the next 50 years. These changes are also linked to shifting geopolitical undercurrents, improved technological and logistical capabilities, intense human activities in the continent and surrounding ocean, and increased interest in its bio-resources. The scope and intensity of human activities in the southern polar region has changed dramatically over the past 100 years. Antarctica is becoming an ‘anthropogenic landscape’ where the challenges of intensifying human activities there suggest that the current governance system may be insufficient to meet the environmental protection obligations set out under the Madrid Protocol 25 years ago.
