The European Society for Environmental History is pleased to invite proposals for sessions, papers and posters for its next international conference. It will take place in Turku, Finland, from June 28 to July 2, 2011. The venues will be Turku University and Åbo Akademi Uni-versity.

Inspired by Turku’s surroundings, which include Europe’s largest archipelago, the main theme of the meeting is “Encounters of Sea and Land”. We encourage proposals that explore the general theme from various environmental history perspectives, such as:

• The emergence of environmental crises of the seas
• Phases of conservation of inland waters, seas, and coasts
• Historical perspectives on marine biodiversity
• History of whaling, fishing and overfishing
• Exploitation of marine resources, such as water, gas, oil, seaweeds, in the past
• History of marine pollution including material flows from land to sea
• History of maritime mobility
• Development of catchment areas as environmental and socio-economic systems
• Environmental history of urban coastal areas
• Landscapes and seascapes: changes in the environment and interpretations
• Islands and archipelagos as natural habitats and social communities

However, contributions on other topics are equally welcome. Potential fields include, but are not limited to:

• Reconstruction of historical weather and climate, and adaptation to climate changes in the past
• Environmental history of the Arctic and polar regions
• Development of environmental movements
• Dimensions of forest history
• Urban environmental history
• History of man-animal relationship, food supply and biodiversity
• Industrial environmental history
• Production, consumption and waste: commodity chains in environmental history
• Cultural values and economic interests: retrospective environmental analyses
• Theories and methods in environmental history

The conference covers all periods and all areas of the globe. In keeping with a cherished tradition of the field, the conference is open to scholars from all disciplines and backgrounds. We encourage submissions from graduate students. The conference language is English; no submissions in other languages will be accepted.

The deadline for submissions is May 3, 2010.

Submitting a Proposal
All proposals should be submitted through our online submission system. The online submission system will open in February 2010. The scientific committee will accept printed or emailed submissions only in exceptional cases.

Sessions
Sessions will usually consist of three papers, not more than 20 minutes each. Other formats (debate panels, roundtables) are possible, but please note that all sessions will need to conclude after 90 minutes. Session proposals should include a cover page with session title, list of contributors and a chair, and individual paper titles; a session abstract of 200-300 words; three individual paper abstracts of 200-300 words; and a one-page c.v. for each participant.
Session proposal may also include a commentator. Nevertheless, all sessions should include sufficient time for general discussion.

Papers
Contributors may also submit individual papers of max. 20 minutes, which will be combined into sessions of three papers in case of acceptance. However, scholars should take note that the scientific committee has a certain preference for session submissions, and that it cannot guarantee thematic coherence for the resulting sessions. Paper proposals are to consist of an abstract of 200-300 words and a one-page c.v.

Posters
Poster proposals will include an abstract of 200-300 words and a one-page c.v. Posters will be on display during the Congress and authors will have an opportunity to introduce their research in brief (approx. three minute) oral presentations in a special plenary session.

Review Process
All proposals will be reviewed by a scientific committee consisting of Corinne Beck (Université de Valenciennes, France), Laura Hollsten (Åbo Akademi University, Finland, vice chair), Hilde Ibsen (Karlstad University, Sweden), Julia Lajus (European University, St. Petersburg, Russia), Simone Neri Serneri (Università di Siena, Italy) and Frank Uekoetter (Rachel Carson Center, Munich, Germany, chair). The committee will make its decisions by early September 2010.

For more information on Turku and the conference, please visit the conference website: http://eseh2011.utu.fi/