The Aarhus University Centre for Environmental Humanities (CEH) is concerned with re-engaging the environment in disciplines such as history, religion, literature and media, ethics, archaeology, anthropology, education, and artistic practice – all with a specific interest in reflecting on present concerns in a deep historical perspective. In the face of the profound environmental crises that loom large in politics and the popular imagination, exploring the cultural interfaces of different societies and their surroundings, synchronically and diachronically, has attained a new urgency. The AU CEH aims to bring together hitherto isolated Environmental Humanities scholars at Aarhus University, and to provide a major longer-term catalyst for the diverse research conducted under its aegis. The CEH has been seed-funded directly from the School of Culture and Society and currently hosts an International Network Programme (INP) grant from the Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education for developing the Aarhus-Cape Town Environmental Humanities Partnership.

The CEH has hosted a series of workshops with our South African colleagues to design and implement a PhD course focused on water infrastructures and water cultures. While originally planned to be held in Cape Town, the ongoing water crisis there led us to relocate the event to Aarhus. This project contributes to theme [2] Global Challenges and theme [4] Interdisciplinary Innovations of BIOCHANGE.

Further information on this and other CEH activities can be found here: ceh.au.dk