Sino-spheres: A Workshop for Chinese Environmental Humanities and Social Science
March 30-31, 2026
Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
We are organizing a workshop to foster deeper historically-minded conversations on the evolving intersections of environment, culture, and society in the Chinese-speaking world and its connected regions. This workshop seeks to bring together scholars from diverse disciplines to explore how ecological and socio-cultural spheres interact, reshape one another, and challenge conventional understandings of China’s environmental pasts, presents, and futures. At a time when environmental issues are deeply entangled with global politics, histories, and cultural narratives, we seek to create a space for critical dialogue, fresh perspectives, and meaningful scholarly exchange. Rather than viewing environmental challenges in isolation, this workshop encourages broad, interdisciplinary discussions that bridge history, literature, anthropology, geography, and related fields.
Key themes of discussion may include, but are not limited to:
- Role of the environment in shaping historical and contemporary notions of time, scale, space, and agency
- Role of nature in shaping historical and contemporary identities
- Impact of development and urbanization on local ecologies
- Representations (socio-technical, conceptual, material) of environmental crises in media, literature, and public discourses
- Politics of disaster and reconstruction
- Climate change and vulnerability
We welcome perspectives on environmental justice, indigenous and minority experiences, and alternative ways of thinking about the climate and environment in Chinese and Sinophone contexts. By bringing together scholars with diverse regional and disciplinary expertise, this workshop aims to spark new conversations and collaborations that extend beyond the event itself, fostering an engaged and growing research network.
This workshop is connected to the upcoming “Sino-spheres” book series with Bloomsbury, which explores the intersections of environment, culture, and society in the Chinese-speaking world. While participation in the workshop does not require commitment to the series, we hope it will serve as a catalyst for future collaboration and cross-fertilization.
Co-organizers
Jia-Chen Fu, Associate Research Fellow, Academia Sinica Institute of Modern History, Jfu[at]gate.sinica.edu.tw
Yifei Li, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, NYU Shanghai; Global Network Assistant Professor, NYU, yifei.li[at]nyu.edu
Submission
Interested scholars should submit an extended abstract of up to 500 words along with their CV. The abstract should highlight the significance of the research in relation to the workshop theme and its contribution to broader scholarly debates. Submissions must be emailed to the workshop co-organizers by Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
Funding
Subject to institutional budget approval, funding may be available to cover travel and lodging expenses for one author per contribution. If you would like to be considered for travel funding, please indicate this in your submission and include your home city and nearest airport information. Funding details will be shared with invited participants.
Schedule
April 30, 2025: Submission closes
June 15, 2025: Selected authors are notified
October 31, 2025: Revised abstracts and bios are due for workshop program finalization
January 31, 2026: Full manuscripts are due for circulation among workshop participants
March 30-31, 2026: The workshop takes place in person at the Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan