Call for Abstracts| 14th European Society for Environmental History Conference, Salzburg, Austria, 7- 10 September 2027
Panel Title: Desirable Strangers: Historical, Anthropological, and Scientific Perspectives on Species Translocation
Panel Organiser: Ștefan Dorondel (The Institute for Southeast European Studies, Romanian Academy)
Contact: stefan.dorondel@istorie.unibuc.ro
Submission Deadline for Abstracts: [1st of October, 2026]
Panel Abstract:
Since prehistory, the migration of Homo sapiens from one territory to another has been accompanied by the introduction of various species into new habitats. This phenomenon, defined by biologists as "translocation," must be analytically distinguished from both the natural mobility specific to each species and the often involuntary spread of invasive species facilitated by human mobility. This panel aims to analyse the introduction of species into new territories since the modern period until the present day, exploring the political and economic motivations behind these actions and the social, political, and economic consequences. The introduction of new species for diverse purposes—ranging from biological control and conservation to economic exploitation—often entailed the creation of novel technologies and infrastructures, as well as the generation of a body of knowledge necessary for their adaptation to new environments. While biologists have extensively examined the ecological consequences of translocations, this topic has been largely neglected within environmental history and environmental anthropology. Situated at the intersection of environmental history and the STS (Science, Technology, and Society) perspective, this topic may open new theoretical insights into the development of society and political economy in the modern and contemporary eras.
Keywords: translocations, species, infrastructure, knowledge, political economy.
Call for Contributions:
We are seeking papers that bridge the gap between the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. We warmly invite environmental historians, anthropologists, biologists, conservationists, and practitioners to contribute. We welcome papers addressing cases of planned species translocation across different geographies and timeframes, particularly those focusing on:
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The political economy and state-sponsored motivations behind introductions.
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The infrastructures, technologies, and scientific knowledge systems developed to support translocated species.
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The friction or alignment between historical intent and actual ecological/biological outcomes.
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Interdisciplinary methodologies that combine archival research with biological or fieldwork data.
How to Propose a Paper:
If you are interested in joining this panel, please send a short abstract (max. 250 words) and a brief bio (max. 150 words) to stefan.dorondel@istorie.unibuc.ro by 1st of October, 2026. For any inquiries regarding the panel's scope or focus, please feel free to reach out via the same email address.