Birkbeck Climate Festival 2025: The Bite of Planetary Justice: Storytelling and Resilience in the Anthropocene
When:
—
Venue:
Birkbeck Central
Academic Staff Present:
Dr. Rob Amos (Lecturer in Law, Birkbeck University)
Dr. Harry Acton (Lecturer in Creative Writing, Birkbeck University)
Dr. Stephen Willey (Co-Academic Director of Environmental Education Projects, Birkbeck University)
Dr Toby Butler, Project Lead, Immersive Learning team
James Cull, Deputy Project Lead, Immersive Learning team
This interactive session, in collaboration with Birkbeck’s Immersive Learning Team, explores the power of storytelling in shaping perceptions of planetary justice, with a focus on urban resilience, climate adaptation, resource management, and social equity. Through a mix of discussions, small group activities, and creative writing exercises, we’ll examine how the metaphor of the "bite" functions in law, literature, and nature. How do the dangerous or venomous bite, or the "bite" of a law with teeth, frame our understanding of conflict, transformation, and survival in the Anthropocene? The session will engage participants in an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on literary, legal, and social science perspectives, and will include Virtual Reality (VR) integration to explore how environmental risks, such as human-wildlife conflict and deforestation, are perceived through narratives of fear and power. This collaborative event invites participants from law, creative writing, social sciences, and beyond to engage in thought-provoking discussions.
The session is capped at 15 participants and is open to students in person. We look forward to seeing you there for a stimulating and collaborative exchange of ideas!
Contact name:
Stephen Willey