Ecology, Community and the Human Spirit

Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd May 2009

Magee campus, Great Hall

‘…believe in miracles and cures and healing wells…’

If the economic miracle was only an illusion, then what can we believe in?
In a time of growing economic, social and environmental instability, what scope is there for looking within (within our own communities, places and selves) for a ground on which to stand? On 1st and 2nd May, join our gathering of activists and academics in Derry to explore ways of developing community, ecological and human resilience.

This event is being hosted by the Academy for Irish Cultural Heritages (AICH) at Ulster University’s Magee campus in Derry. Registration begins 1.30pm on Friday 1st May and the event will continue through Friday evening with a buffet and ceilidh, and will run until 4.30pm on Saturday 2nd May. There’s no charge but spaces are limited.

If you would like to attend, please contact Iain MacKinnon of the AICH on mackinnon-i@email.ulster.ac.uk or Ms Gemma Thornton on (+44) 02871375785 or g.thornton@ulster.ac.uk

Running Schedule (word doc)

EVENT PROGRAMME

DAY1: Friday 1st May
13.30
Registration - Main Building, Foyer
14:30
Welcome and introduction (Main Building, Great Hall) - Iain MacKinnon and Liam Campbell - University of Ulster PhD students
15:00
John Feehan, University College Dublin's School of Biological and Environmental Science on ‘Community and ecology’
15:45
Walk led by John Feehan exploring the ecology of Magee Campus (45 minutes). Depending on the weather it could be useful to bring stout footwear and showerproof gear)

4.30pm – 5pm Tea/Coffee

17:00
A discussion led by Liam and Iain beginning with short contributions from local community groups on themes that are relevant to their current work, reinforcing and expanding on conversations that Liam and Iain had with the groups in order to frame the seminar. A discussion based on these conversations could form the beginning of identifying themes for the open space session on Saturday afternoon.

6pm – 6.30pm Tea/Coffee

18.30
Mark Wallace of Swarthmore College's Department of Religion on ‘Christianity in an Ecological Age’ chaired by John Gillespie Professor of Languages, Head of School of Languages and Literature, University of Ulster
19.30pm – close
Buffet reception hosted by Jim Allen, provost of Magee Campus and a ceilidh. We are hoping to have musicians with us and as part of the ceilidh if anyone would like to offer music, song, poetry or a story that would be great.

DAY 2 - Saturday 2nd May
9.30am – 11am
Richard Douthwaite of FEASTA: The Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability, and author of ‘The Growth Illusion talking on ‘Ecology and economy – getting to the roots of the current crisis’ chaired by Ulrich Kockel, Professor of Ethnology and Folklife, Univeristy of Ulster

11am – 11.30am Tea/Coffe

1130am – 13:00
Nellie McLaughlin Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, Northern Province and author of ‘Out of Wonder’ talks to Liam Campbell about her personal journey to ecological awareness and Liam introduces Brendan Farren - engineer, craftsman and eco-builder - who talks about making Donegal’s first hemp and lime home.

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch

14:00
An Open Session in small groups to discuss themes emerging from the seminar
15:30/close
The full group re-gathers to hear the results of the small group sessions and discuss them further.

< Back to Seminar Series list 08/09