Island Futures: an evening of eco-poetry and discussion
Co-organised by the Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network, the Scottish Poetry Library, and Creative Carbon Scotland.
Monday 30th September
19.30 – 21.30
The Project Room, 50 George Square
University of Edinburgh
EH8 9JU
Island communities will be some of those hardest hit by climate change. Centred around readings by and discussions with two islander poets, this event will seek to interrogate the implications of climate justice for island communities as well as the role that poetry can have for engaging with these issues. Our speakers will include:
- Roseanne Watt: Shetland-born poet who writes in a mixture of English and Shetland dialect and often works with combinations of words and film. Her debut poetry collection Moder Dy was published earlier this year. Roseanne will be interviewed by Alice Tarbuck, eco-poet and member of the Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network
- Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner: Marshallese poet, environmental campaigner and teacher of Pacific Studies who spoke at the 2014 UN Climate Leaders Summit in New York. Her most recent poetry collection Iep Jāltok: Poems from a Marshallese Daughter was published in 2017. Kathy will be interviewed by Michelle Keown, Professor at the University of Edinburgh whose work includes studies on climate change and islands.
The event will conclude with a discussion session that will give you the opportunity to debate these issues closely with other attendees and the speakers, thinking about issues of climate justice and the roles that poetry can have in engaging with climate change.
Places can be booked here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/island-futures-an-evening-of-eco-poetry-and-discussion-tickets-69718573129
