Vienna, Austria
27 – 28th Feb 2015
Deadline: 30th Nov 2014
Organized by CHESS (China and the Environment in the Social Sciences)
Hosted by the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Vienna, Austria
Keynote speaker: Yu Xiaogang, Green Watershed
Submissions are welcomed for the inaugural CHESS Young Scholars Conference to be held at the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Vienna on 27-28 February 2015.
Organizers
CHESS (China and the Environment in the Social Sciences) is an interdisciplinary research network for
scholars from across the social sciences with research interests relating to environmental issues in
China. Both the network and the conference provide a forum for graduate students and young
scholars to discuss ideas, exchange information and to strengthen professional networks across the
field.
Context
China faces a multitude of environmental challenges, ranging from biophysical impacts of climate
change, deforestation and water scarcity, to impacts on health and social stability resulting from
pollution, land contamination and overexploitation of natural resources. Rapid industrialization and
lax environmental oversight have exacerbated these problems exponentially, leaving the country in
a position of acute environmental crisis and unsustainable development.
Goals
The CHESS Young Scholars Conference 2015 aims to investigate and formulate new theorizations of
environmental dynamics in China through a critical analysis of actors, institutions and processes
across and between spatial dimensions from the local to the international level, taking into account
the political, economic and social contexts in which they operate. A key element of the conference is
the broad interdisciplinary nature of its panels, drawing from across the social sciences in order to
utilize a diverse array of theoretical and methodological approaches. To allow for a holistic
perspective, contributions from political science, sociology, economics, anthropology, law and other
disciplines addressing environmental issues in the PRC and/or Taiwan are highly encouraged.
Topics
Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:
• China on the world stage: international environmental and climate change diplomacy
• Environmental governance in rural and urban areas
• Changing roles of state, market, and civil actors
• The Chinese environmental movement: actors and trends
• Greening China’s economy: tools, policies, and marketization strategies
Options for further collaboration and possible joint publications will be discussed during the
conference.
Important Information
Applicants are required to submit an abstract (max. 300 words) and a short biography (max. 150
words) in English to chess.ostasien@univie.ac.at by 30 November 2014. Travel and accommodation
costs must be borne by the participants. Please contact the conference organisers at the above
email address with any additional queries. More information and a detailed schedule will be
provided closer to the conference date.
Conference venue: Department of East Asian Studies, University of Vienna, Austria
Contact and abstract submission: chess.ostasien@univie.ac.at
Conference website: http://chess.univie.ac.at
Abstracts due: 30 November 2014
Notification of acceptance: 10 December 2014
Full papers due: 11 February 2015
Conference dates: 27-28 February 2015
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