BU Research Blog

This year Trento University (Italy) and Bournemouth University (UK) have launched the Socio-Ecological Transitions Seminars (SETS) as a joint initiative between the Centre for Sustainable and Socially Responsible Consumption at Bournemouth University and the Research Group on Collective Action, Change and Transition at the University of Trento.

SETS aim at reflecting with critical instruments and theories on socio-ecological transformations in times of crisis – with a special focus on everyday life and the sphere of social and ecological reproduction. In particular, the seminars aim at eliciting reflection on the different practices and “fields” where struggles and transformative action take place. The seminars are open to a diverse audience, including academics, students, practitioners, social movements, and non-specialist public.

In our first seminar in March, Stefania Barca (Universidade Santiago de Compostela) presented her last book “Forces of reproduction. Struggles and practices of ecosocial justice”, while researcher and activist Antonella Picchio (University of Modena) joined as discussant.

In April, Matthew Anderson (University of Portsmouth) and Indro Dasgupta, (Word Fair Trade Organisation) presented their work-in-progress on ‘Fair Trade Consumption in India’, while  Anita Ahuja, Co-Founder and President of Conserve India and Board member of Fair Trade Forum India, joined as a discussant.

Lastly, in May, Lara Monticelli (Copenhagen Business School) presented her upcoming book The Future Is Now: An Introduction to Prefigurative Politics, focused on community-based, prefigurative social movements (e.g. sustainable communities, eco-villages, transition towns, solidarity networks) while Bernd Bonfert (Cardiff University) joined as a discussant.

Our seminars call for academics, social movements, and diverse actors to cooperate to give visibility to counter-narratives able to move towards an ‘ecological revolution’. We look forward to the second cycle in Autumn 2022 and feedback, collaborations and ideas are welcome. For more details contact Roberta Discetti (Department of People and Organisations).