About Us

Environmental Humanities and History of the Present Research Group
Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Institute of Czech History

Researchers in social sciences and humanities around the world have recently begun to ask themselves questions arising from the conditions of life in the Anthropocene era. We live in a time of poly-crises consisting of the climate crisis, exceedings the limits of our planet, conflicts in civil society, and others. These are all rooted in history, influence our present imagination, and will shape our future.

We may know numbers, facts, and hard data, but human attitudes, actions, and value hierarchies are variable. From historical, social, and local conditions, both uncertainty as well as entrenched patterns of thinking and behaviour arise. As a tool for understanding and transforming the contemporary world, they must be reflected from the perspective of the humanities and social sciences.

The most pressing problem is represented by past, ongoing and expected environmental changes though. We are aware that issues of human behaviour, beliefs, values, and structures are entangled in the environmental problems that our global community is facing. Therefore, a critical approach to human-environment interactions in the past, present, and future is essential. The Environmental Humanities and History of the Present Research Group was hence established at the Institute of Czech History, Faculty of Arts, Charles University. This new platform offers space for interdisciplinary exchange, the possibility of collaboration on projects with the cultural and creative industries, and discussion of the public role of the humanities and social sciences, including history.

Our goals comprise:

  1. Establishing and promoting environmental humanities in Czech society and the academic sphere through scientific production and teaching.
  2. Support and development of interdisciplinary dialogue and research across disciplines at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, but also with other domestic and foreign humanities, social sciences, and natural science institutions.
  3. Cultivation of civil society using lectures, seminars, and workshops based on results of our interdisciplinary research.

We look for inspiration in collaboration with various European centres for environmental humanities.