No images? Click here Acting Director's Note12 March 2024 Dear SEI community, It was wonderful to see so many of you at last night’s Iain McCalman Lecture, delivered by Dr Sophie Chao. The McCalman Lecture pays tribute to Iain's dream of creating a multidisciplinary environmental research institution at the University of Sydney, and enables one of our brilliant ECR scholars to articulate a vision for how we move into the future. It was in this spirit that Sophie spoke about Indigenous practices of 'multispecies mourning' in West Papua. Learning from her Marind collaborators, Sophie offered an exemplar of how it is possible to both authentically mourn for all that (and who) are being lost, and to resist the destructive forms of human life that are killing multispecies kin and undermining the multispecies relationships that nourish all life. It was also inspiring to hear the names and work of so many SEI members woven into Sophie’s lecture, and to be reminded of what it is to learn, to mourn, and to reach for right ecological relationship together. If you weren’t able to attend the event, you can listen to the recording here. I am also pleased to announce Prof Carolyn Hogg has started this month in the new role of Deputy Director, External Engagement. Please join me in making Carolyn feel welcome. Danielle Celermajer 2024 Iain McCalman Lecture recordingThank you to all who attended the 2024 Iain McCalman Lecture, spoken by Dr Sophie Chao. During the lecture, Sophie explored the concept of multispecies mourning, guiding the audience through the practices of the Marind people of West Papua. These practices, including weaving, singing, and planting, serve as both a form of mourning and resistance. Deep Water book launchIn partnership with Sydney Ideas, SEI invites you to the 'Deep Water' book launch, exploring the beauty of the natural world with Australian author James Bradley. Monday 8 Apr, 6.00 - 7.00pm | Register here Radical work of mourning panelListen to SEI theme leads Prof Thom van Dooren and Dr Blanche Verlie as they discuss how taking time to dwell on loss can cultivate a richer sense of our planet. Thursday 11 Apr 6.00 - 7.30pm | Register here Reimagining climate futuresThe newest publication from the Grounded Imaginaries project, Climate Imaginaries as Praxis, examines how communities are reimagining a sustainable future. SEI's 2023 Annual ReportSEI are pleased to announce our 2023 Annual Report is now available. Read about our research projects, member achievements, and our vision for the future. SEI 2024 Honours fellows Congratulations to Arielle Saunders (Faculty of Science), Sanaa Shah (Faculty of Science), Alana Barbaro (Faculty of Law), and Lauren Hocking (Faculty of Engineering/Science) who have been awarded the SEI Honours Research Fellowship, and to Antonio Izzo (Faculty of Science) for their award of the Iain McCalman Honours Research Award, in partnership with Chau Chak Wing Museum. More events Sydney Nano are hosting NanoPitch STEM: Driving Innovation for Sustainability striving to make nanotechnology part of the solution to existential challenges | 20 Mar, register here SEI Member Prof Claire Hooker is exploring how better integrating the arts into the health system can lead to enhanced living | 21 Mar, register here SEI Members Prof Ana Vila Concejo and Dr Chris Pepin-Neff are presenting at Ocean Lovers Talks | 23-24 Mar, register here The Marine Studies Institute and Dr Chris Pepin-Neff are hosting the Shark Collaborative Research Workshop | 3 Apr, RSVP via email The Natural Hazards Research Forum 2024 will be held at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide | 14-16 May, learn more In case you missed itSEI would like to congratulate theme leads Dr Federico Tartarini, Dr Blanche Verlie, and Dr Lee White for their recent award of University of Sydney Horizon Fellowship. Recently, Prof David Schlosberg delivered a lecture on climate turbulence and justice at the Helsinki Collegium | Watch the recording here The Public Health Research and Practice journal have released a special issue on 'Urban planning and development for health’ | Read here SEI Member Dr Justin See writes 'How young people’s anger might spur climate action' | Read here Expressions of Interest for the Judy Harris Writer-in-Residence Fellowship at the Charles Perkins Centre are now open | Closing 8 Apr, learn more ARMS is currently calling for abstract submissions to be delivered during the 2024 Conference in Darwin | Preconference workshops closing 15 Mar, oral and poster presentations closing 12 Apr, learn more Entries for the University of Sydney Eureka Prize for Sustainability Research are now open | Closing 12 Apr, read more The James Martin Institute Policy Challenge Grant supports applied public policy research to tackle the greatest public policy challenges facing New South Wales for the public good | Closing 14 Apr, learn more Become a memberInterested in joining our global network? Submit an expression of interest. SEI members receive opportunities to work with environmental scholars and practitioners from across disciplines to tackle the greatest challenges of our time. |