The animals we domesticated, the plants we moved between continents, the species we share with others also influenced the way we live and the places we inhabit. But what happens when we stop looking at animals and plants merely as scenery and place them at the center of our story as well?
This is the starting point of the new cycle of masterclasses “Studies on Animals and Plants,” promoted by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of NOVA University Lisbon (NOVA FCSH). Integrated in NOVA PERSPECTIVE | Cycles of Masterclasses in the Social and Human Sciences, the cycle brings together researchers from different fields and is intended for the general public.
The masterclasses are organized into two thematic axes: “Between Species,” coordinated by Nina Vieira, and “Living Landscapes,” coordinated by Bárbara Direito. Each axis comprises three sessions, which can be attended autonomously or as a complete program.
The cycle begins by looking at animals, with “Sea Turtles: Migrations and Explorations in the Ocean,” “Us and the Other Primates: The Challenges of a Shared History” and “Dogs and Human-Animal Imaginaries: History and Literature.” Three sessions that explore different forms of the relationship between humans and animals, crossing questions of mobility, evolution, history, culture and representation.
The second axis shifts the gaze to landscapes, with “Orange Trees and Palms: Local Knowledge and Circulation,” “Vineyard and Wine: From the Landscape of Domestication to the Post-Phylloxera Terroir” and “Cattle: Historical and Environmental Perspectives, 19th and 20th Centuries.” The three sessions explore how the relationships between humans, plants and animals left marks on landscapes and territories.
The masterclasses take place from October 15 to November 19, in-person and online, and can be attended individually or integrated into a program.
All information, including the registration fee, is available on the NOVA FCSH site. Registrations run until September 30.
