Understanding "Place" - part of Global Bioregional Month

When people talk about 'place-based' or 'place-responsive' approaches and initiatives, what do they mean? Are they focusing on a town, a city, a specific geographic area, or something else? Are they referring to human beings 'in place', or to the wider Earth-community of plants, animals and beings? Does it matter?

In bioregioning, place is everything. Bioregioning sees 'place as a guide' for human societies, and 'place as identity'. But do we really understand what 'place' means to each other, or to our ecological and social justice initiatives?

Join us for this important seminar, where Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge holders will share their perspectives on the theory and practice of 'place'.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

MARY GRAHAM

Mary Graham is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Political Science at the University of Queensland. She grew up in South-East Queensland, and is a Kombu-merri person through her father’s heritage and a Wakka Wakka clan through her mother’s heritage. With a career spanning more than 40 years, Mary has worked across several government agencies, community organisations and universities. Mary is recognised as one of Australia's leading philosophers and is Director of Waijin Research Hub and Future Dreaming Australia.

GILBERT BURGH

Gilbert Burgh is Honorary Associate Professor in Philosophy at The University of Queensland. His research intersects the fields of deliberative democracy and educational philosophy. He has published widely on democratic education, focusing on place-responsive pedagogies to connect collaborative, self-correcting, dialogic inquiry with human-ecological relations to foster deliberative citizenship.

SIMONE THORNTON

Simone Thornton is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy in the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry at the University of Wollongong, where she teaches Environmental Philosophy, Global Ethics and the Meaning of Life, and is an honorary lecturer at the University of Queensland. Her research interests intersect social, political, environmental and educational philosophy with a focus on eco-rationality. Simone is a founding member of the Australian Philosophy Research Group along with Gilbert Burgh, Mary Graham and Michelle Boulous Walker

ASH MARKSTONE

Ash Markstone is a Dunghutti and Birpai woman, currently living on Dharawal Country. She is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Wollongong. Ash is a passionate advocate for Indigenous peoples. Her research areas include environmental sustainability, Indigenous studies, domestic violence, crime and social justice, digital technologies, futurisms, and history.

OSCAR DAVIS

Oscar Davis completed his PhD at Bond University in 2021.  Oscar researches in a variety of areas including moral philosophy and psychology, epistemology, environmental ethics, Indigenous studies, and the history of philosophy. 

HOSTED BY MICHELLE MALONEY

Michelle Maloney is the National Convenor of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA), and an advocate for ecocentric and bioregional governance. Michelle holds a PhD in law from Griffith University and creates and manages a range of multi-disciplinary and transdisciplinary programs within AELA. To read about Michelle's international affiliations, teaching, publications and other programs please visit: www.michellemaloney.au

ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN EARTH LAWS ALLIANCE (AELA)

AELA is a not-for-profit organisation working to increase the understanding and practical implementation of Earth-centred (ecocentric) governance, with a focus on systems change across law, economics, education, ethics and community participation in Australia. AELA's vision is an Australian society that embraces an ecocentric or ‘life-centred’ culture, with governance systems that enable human communities to thrive within ecological boundaries, while nurturing biodiversity and ecosystem health. AELA's work includes education programs and project support for people, communities and organisations working to create ecocentric and bioregional systems change.

For more information, visit our website: www.earthlaws.org.au
or email us anytime: aela@earthlaws.org.au