We aim to create a multidisciplinary context where researchers in any discipline who are interested in both language and ecological issues can meet. This includes not only linguists but researchers from areas such as a) environmental communication and ecomedia, b) environmental science and ecology, c) ecological humanities such as ecological anthropology, ecocriticism or ecopsychology, d) business subjects such as environmental economics or ethical marketing, d)
ecological social and political sciences.
One of the aims of ecolinguistics is to challenge conventional forms of language and social organisation and to contribute to emerging new forms. In line with this, ICE-5 will include not only conventional paper presentations but also a variety of more interactive sessions including round table discussions, outdoor sessions, interactive workshops, poetry and storytelling events, mindfulness activities, and public engagement.
Potential topics and themes include but are not limited to:
- Using ecolinguistics to resist consumerism and hegemonic economic discourses.
- Working to improve communication in ecological campaigns and movements.
- Exploring, preserving and promoting ecological discourses from traditional and indigenous
cultures across the world. - The application of ecological philosophies such as buen vivir in law-making.
- Using cognitive approaches to opinion-formation to contribute to policy change.
- Critiquing discourses of environmental responsibility and justice to highlight who is to blame
and who has a duty to act. - Eco-anxiety and how the language of ecopsychology can promote environmental action.
- The search for ecosomatic discourses to promote reconnection with the body and nature.
- Using ecolinguistics to resist discourses which exploit animals and promote plant-based
living. - Critiquing discourses of sustainable living, including zero-waste living.
- Exploring ecological identity formation on social media and promoting ecologically beneficial
identities. - Using ecolinguistics to embed ecological education across the curriculum.