Philip Levy, Professor of History, University of South Florida

Proposal Type: Panel

Abstract: Humans have so changed the earth’s climate that we now are in a new era defined by human activity. This panel asks how can public historians respond to the challenges presented by rapid and dramatic climate change and help create the future we all face.

Seeking: Gradually more and more people and forms of authority are coming to realize that the question of climate change is not a problem to solve, but a reality requiring major changes in how we live our lives. Historians have begun to suggest that the reality of the Anthropocene (the era of human made climate changes) presents a whole new way for the past to “matter” as humanity faces an increasingly uncertain future. This panel challenges public sites and public historians and asks what can public history do to help ease the change that we all face.

I would like this panel to pull together other scholars and professionals who are considering this problem in their work and are looking to retool large portions of the historical enterprise to address more fully our shared future in the Anthropocene.

Related Topics: Environment, Civic Engagement, Preservation

If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to share contact information for other people the proposer should reach out to, please get in contact directly: Philip Levy, plevy[at]usf.edu

If you have general ideas or feedback to share please feel free to use the comments feature below.

 

Discussion

5 comments
  1. Rebecca Conard says:

    Phil, those of us involved in the Environmental Sustainability Task Force, which presented a draft white paper at the 2014 conference, now in the hands of the board for further consideration, would be happy to work with you to develop a session for the Nashville conference. Leah Glaser, Central Connecticut State University, chairs the task force, and the members are listed on the main NCPH website. History@Work has several posts by those on the task force, which can be found under Interest Sections/Social and Environmental.

    Rebecca Conard, MTSU

    1. Cathy Stanton says:

      Here’s a draft of the White Paper (currently accepting comments!), so you can see what’s been done on this over the past few years and what’s in the works presently. We also published a digital anthology called “Public History in a Changing Climate” in connection with last year’s “Sustainable Public History” theme, and there will be a companion special issue of The Public Historian journal coming out in early fall as well. It would be great to continue some of this momentum into the 2015 conference – glad you’re proposing this!

  2. Philip Levy says:

    Thanks so much for this. I know that the ball is rolling already, but at the same time, I think we all need to keep pushing this issue front and center every chance we get. Pubic history is positioned to radically redefine the entire historical enterprise—indeed, it already is. If we can use these moments to start from the premise that one of the most important junctures we have faced as a species is the shift from the Holocene era to the Anthropocene, then we can reimagine history—and indeed all humanities—as being central players in reimagining how we live on the planet. What I would like to see this panel do is look at pubic sites and historical narratives and see what they can do to help prepare for the coming and already arriving disjunctures. I see this less a being about how we can meet the challenge, but rather how can we as historians dealing with public sites and stories retool to both be relevant amidst change and help make the world we are becoming a better place.

  3. Cathy Stanton says:

    Perhaps this is finally an idea whose moment has come! This recent post and video from Robert Janes is definitely in sync with your ideas here.

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