This is a call for papers for the workshop "Knowing Nature: The Changing Foundations of Environmental Knowledge". The workshop will take place from 25-27 May 2017 in Renmin, China and is organized by the Rachel Carson Center and the Center for Ecological History, Renmin University of China.

The organizers seek proposals that examine what has been seen and understood as measurable, speculative, safe or unsafe and how scale (of landscapes, research projects etc.) can affect knowledge production. They welcome proposals on the rise of new fields of knowledge about nature and the environment and their search for disciplinary and institutional stability. The conference will seek to move beyond simple dichotomies (modernity vs. tradition, science vs. religion, folk wisdom vs. urban ignorance), to develop comparisons that cross national boundaries, and to bring neglected parts of the globe and time into view.

Applicants should send a one page abstract of their proposed paper (or about 300 words) and include a title and a one or two page CV.
Send proposals to conference secretary Agnes Kneitz, Assistant Professor of History at Renmin University at this address: a.kneitz@ruc.edu.cn.

The deadline for consideration is 1 January 2017.