The Center for Environmental Humanities at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev aims to develop a deep understanding of the environmental and climate crisis through a humanities lens. Bringing together researchers from the humanities and related fields, it encourages interdisciplinary collaboration on environmental and ecological issues, while building a bridge between these fields and the natural sciences.
In recent years, the environmental humanities have emerged as a pivotal part of academia's response to climate change. This field operates on the premise that human-nature relationships are profoundly shaped by various images and perceptions embedded in our culture—images and perceptions that demand exploration with appropriate tools. For instance, what narratives do humans construct to justify or restrict the exploitation of natural resources? How did ancient peoples' views of the environment differ from those in the 21st century? What role can art play in raising public awareness of the climate crisis? How can a new ecological ethic be developed, and might its origins be found in the past? A deep understanding of these and similar questions now confronts all humanities disciplines—including, for example, literature, art, archaeology, history, and philosophy. This understanding is crucial not only in itself but also for enabling more effective practical actions against climate change.
The center runs a dedicated seminar that includes three meetings each semester. It offers scholarships and grants to encourage interdisciplinary research in the environmental humanities. It also promotes the teaching and learning of environmental humanities across all relevant fields, and organizes additional events periodically.
The Centre is affiliated with both the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change. It is co-headed by Dr. Michal Birkenfeld (Department of Archeology) and Dr. Itay Marienberg-Milikowsky (Department of Hebrew Literature).
