The Forum for the Study of Religion and the Environment was established in 2004 in order to develop an expanding cooperation of researchers in different academic disciplines on the theme of Religion, Nature, the Environment and Culture. The Forum's 2nd International Conference on " Religion & Ecology in the Public Sphere" will take place in Åbo (fi. Turku) in Finland 14-17 May 2009

We hope that you will find all necessary information on these pages, but if you have questions or need further information, please contact the conference secretary Dr. Björn Vikström, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or the EFSRE chair, Prof. Dr. Sigurd Bergmann, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

All info from the website: https://www.abo.fi/student/religionekologikonferens

View the invitation

Preliminary programme

"Religion and Ecology in the Public Sphere" in Åbo 14-17.5. 2009

Thursday 14.5.
16:00-17:30 Registration and coffee (Aula/Arken)
17:30-18:00 Opening of the conference and information (Auditory Armfelt / Arken)
18:15-19.45 Key Note 1 followed by Panel Discussion (Auditory Armfelt / Arken)
Erik Bonsdorff: "The ecological and political challenges of the Baltic Sea"
Chair: Tage Kurtén. Members: Celia Deane-Drummond, Pauliina Kainulainen and Marko  Joas.
20:00- Social gathering & something to eat (Arken)

Friday 15.5.
09:00-10:30 Key Note 2 + response + discussion (Auditory Armfelt / Arken)
Peter Beyer: " Who Shall Speak for the Environment? Translating Religious,  Scientific, and Political Regimes of Power and Knowledge in a Globalized Society"
Response: Tage Kurtén
10:30-11:00 Coffee Break (Aula/Arken)
11:00-12:30 Paper Session 1 (in groups / different seminar rooms in Arken)
13:00-14:00 Lunch (Arken)
14:00-15:30 Guided Tour (Åbo Academy University) including a reception hosted by the Rector of ÅAU
16:00-17:30 Paper Session 2 (in groups / different seminar rooms in Arken)
18:00-19:00 Dinner (Arken)
19:00-20:30 Key Note 3 + response + discussion (Auditory Armfelt / Arken)
Heinrich Bedford-Strohm: "Public Theology and Civil Society"
Response: Pauliina Kainulainen
21:00 Gathering at the brewery restaurant Koulu (at one's own expense)

Saturday 16.5.
09:00-10:30 Key Note 4 + response + discussion (Auditory Armfelt / Arken)
Elina Vuola: " Latin American Liberation Theologians' Turn to Eco(theo)logy"
Response: Sigurd Bergmann
10:30-11:00 Coffee Break
11:00-12.30 Key Note 5 + response + discussion (Auditory Armfelt / Arken)
Hans Diefenbacher: " Economizing climate change ­ the infiltration of the economic paradigm into the public sphere"
Response: Jan-Otto Anderson
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:30 Paper session 3 (in groups / different seminar rooms in Arken)
16:00 Tour by bus to Naantali, a beautiful small town by the sea 15 km from Turku,  where we among the sights of the town visit the Convent Church, built in the 15th  century as a part of a Brigittine Convent. Dinner at restaurant Kala-Trappi, known
for its fish dishes.

Sunday 17.5.
09:00-10:30 Key Note 6 + response + discussion (Auditory Armfelt / Arken)
Peter Scott: " Right out of time? Politics and nature in a postnatural condition"
Response: Celia Deane-Drummond
10:30-11:00 Coffee Break
11:00-12:00 "Business meeting" + conclusion with panel discussion.